Modelling Hazards in Fisheries and Aquaculture Activities in the Mediterranean Sea and the Risk of their Transmission and Dispersion. Is it Feasible?

Abstract

Modelling approaches in marine science is a controversial issue as no model is, or can be, a perfect representation of nature. Models can provide useful information for the dynamics of ecosystems and inform us about the likely consequences of human activities in fisheries and aquaculture. Applying a suite of dynamic models can be valuable predictive tools for modelling hazards transmission in fisheries and aquaculture activities in the Mediterranean Sea. These should include a. A low trophic level ecosystem model and sub-models to describe the ecosystem functioning of the sea for the background physical information and a biogeochemical sub-model which simulates functional groups. b. A pelagic fish individual-based model (IBM) to describe the bio-accumulation of chemical and biological hazards.c. An aquaculture integrated model, a mass balance model, to calculate the input of effluents into the environment as a result of the fish farm operations and feeding regimes.d. A dynamic energy budget (model for cultured bivalve species to predict the bioaccumulation of hazards such as heavy metals or toxins from harmful algal blooms.These dynamic models can contribute to develop and/or improve systems ensuring process efficacy and validation for hazard control by identifying "hot spot" zones and concentrations of hazard agents above certain limits, improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the controls performed by food safety Competent Authorities along the seafood chain, identify areas of hazard agents accumulation and contribute to the transparency and reliability of food safety in the Mediterranean fisheries and aquaculture production sites.