270
R. Sardli . M. Fiuvili
As opposed to what has been occurring in other parts of the Catalan Coast, beach
nourishment techniques are not commonly used in the Costa Brava. Nevertheless, during the last years, sublittoral shallow soft -bottoms in front of S' Abanell beach (Blanes)
have been used to regenerate beaches located some kilometres South of Blanes
(Maresme region). Although it is not mandatory, and no major management commitment is necessary, the EC Directive 97/11 (3rd March 1997) recommend to the EC State
Members (Annex II) to conduct an Environmental Impact Assessment previous activities of shoreface nourishment and sand extraction. Beach nourishment is an expensive activity and important associated risks to these techniques should be careful evaluated such, namely:
a The loss of beach stability by redistribution onshore, offshore, and alongshore, in
\the zones where sand is extracted;
b The irreversible changes such as destruction of Posidonia oceanica seagrass meadows; and
c The depletion of the (zoo)benthic community in the sand extracted sites, the later
can be coupled with the disappearance of commercial bivalve banks, with associated risks for other consumers up in the food chain.
Next to the dredging activities in front of the S' Abanell beach, an important loss of
the beach surface was observed by the accentuation of the beach profile, and a commercial bank of the clam Callista chione almost disappeared of this shallow bottoms
(unpublished data). Callista chione was measured in 1992-94 at an annual average biomass of 0.6 g dry weight m- 2 (11.0 t wet weight without shell) in the Bay of Blanes (density of 6 individuals m- 2 ) just before the last dredging activities. Two years after the
dredging, the biomass of Callista in the Bay was measured as 0.1 g dry weight m- 2 (1.9 t
wet weight without shell) with a density of 3.5 individuals m -2. The loss of surface beach
by tourist, or the compensation measures for the clam fishermen of Blanes (they need
to go to other regions now to fish) were not considered before the processes of restoration of the Maresme beaches.
14.3.3
Preservation of the Natural Heritage (Physical occupation of the Territory)
Tourist demand in our country led to a rapid and often disorderly urbanization oflarge
stretches of our coast. The main consequences of mass tourism has been the appearance of a huge hotel web, apartments, individual houses and camping grounds that they
have profoundly modified the landscapes of the Costa Brava. The individual initiative
combined with local policy have been key factors for this rapid growth, and account
for the different models of development found in this coast, ranging from those observed in Lloret de Mar or Playa de Aro to those observed in Cadaques or Tossa de
Mar. Figure 14.9 show the landscape transformation of the shoreline (two first
kilometres inland from the sea) in the .three waterfront municipalities of La Selva region (Southern Costa Brava). In this figure we compare the percentage ofland uses in
1956,1981, and 1995. In this 40 year period, the three municipalities have experienced a
contrasting evolution. This evolution is based on their recent past. Blanes is the most
populated town, and has a fishing port, a deltCJ;ic flats, and industrial activities of cer-
R. Sardli . M. Fiuvili
As opposed to what has been occurring in other parts of the Catalan Coast, beach
nourishment techniques are not commonly used in the Costa Brava. Nevertheless, during the last years, sublittoral shallow soft -bottoms in front of S' Abanell beach (Blanes)
have been used to regenerate beaches located some kilometres South of Blanes
(Maresme region). Although it is not mandatory, and no major management commitment is necessary, the EC Directive 97/11 (3rd March 1997) recommend to the EC State
Members (Annex II) to conduct an Environmental Impact Assessment previous activities of shoreface nourishment and sand extraction. Beach nourishment is an expensive activity and important associated risks to these techniques should be careful evaluated such, namely:
a The loss of beach stability by redistribution onshore, offshore, and alongshore, in
\the zones where sand is extracted;
b The irreversible changes such as destruction of Posidonia oceanica seagrass meadows; and
c The depletion of the (zoo)benthic community in the sand extracted sites, the later
can be coupled with the disappearance of commercial bivalve banks, with associated risks for other consumers up in the food chain.
Next to the dredging activities in front of the S' Abanell beach, an important loss of
the beach surface was observed by the accentuation of the beach profile, and a commercial bank of the clam Callista chione almost disappeared of this shallow bottoms
(unpublished data). Callista chione was measured in 1992-94 at an annual average biomass of 0.6 g dry weight m- 2 (11.0 t wet weight without shell) in the Bay of Blanes (density of 6 individuals m- 2 ) just before the last dredging activities. Two years after the
dredging, the biomass of Callista in the Bay was measured as 0.1 g dry weight m- 2 (1.9 t
wet weight without shell) with a density of 3.5 individuals m -2. The loss of surface beach
by tourist, or the compensation measures for the clam fishermen of Blanes (they need
to go to other regions now to fish) were not considered before the processes of restoration of the Maresme beaches.
14.3.3
Preservation of the Natural Heritage (Physical occupation of the Territory)
Tourist demand in our country led to a rapid and often disorderly urbanization oflarge
stretches of our coast. The main consequences of mass tourism has been the appearance of a huge hotel web, apartments, individual houses and camping grounds that they
have profoundly modified the landscapes of the Costa Brava. The individual initiative
combined with local policy have been key factors for this rapid growth, and account
for the different models of development found in this coast, ranging from those observed in Lloret de Mar or Playa de Aro to those observed in Cadaques or Tossa de
Mar. Figure 14.9 show the landscape transformation of the shoreline (two first
kilometres inland from the sea) in the .three waterfront municipalities of La Selva region (Southern Costa Brava). In this figure we compare the percentage ofland uses in
1956,1981, and 1995. In this 40 year period, the three municipalities have experienced a
contrasting evolution. This evolution is based on their recent past. Blanes is the most
populated town, and has a fishing port, a deltCJ;ic flats, and industrial activities of cer-