Which approch for sustainable development of small-scale fisheries? The case of Italy

Small-scale fisheries represent a wide segment of the whole Italian fishing sector and, as it is, it has been facing a crisis started a decade ago. Its relationship with the territory implies that, without opportune management interventions, the survival of coastal communities depending on fishing activities is in jeopardy. From a sustainable development perspective, considering problems related to exploitation of living marine resources, and socio-economic difficulties of small-scale coastal fisheries, a crucial question is how to promote the sustainable development of the Italian Fleet. This paper presents an overview of different management approaches applicable for the sustainable development of Mediterranean small-scale fisheries. After a description of small-scale coastal fisheries and their recent development in Italy, undertake an empirical analysis of exchange method where sustainable management strategies are proposed to be implemented in order to promote sustainable development of Italian fisheries.