SUSTAINABLE FISHERY MANAGEMENT OF COASTAL WETLANDS USING DATA BASES

This paper describes the development of a database aiming to the sustainable fishery management of coastal wetlands traditionally exploited for their rich fisheries, currently protected by international legislation. The pilot database was developed for littoral lakes in north-eastern coasts of Greece. Data were collected from scientific references, studies and research programs and include information concerning the coastal wetlands such as water physicochemicals, flora, fauna, avifauna and fish fauna, fishery production, human interventions, land and water uses, protection status, the active management plan for the protection, recovery and sustainable development. The user-friendly graphical user interface (GUI) was designed to customise the system to the users demands and helps users effectively handle the huge amount of various types stored environmental data through successive selections. The interface helps the user, computer literate or not, to easily identify and retrieve any required social, ecological, productive, economic and biological charge in wetlands and coastal lake ecosystems within their sustainable exploitation. The database (DB) can be useful for local authorities and stakeholders for management and protection purposes and sound reference for coastal areas.