Integrated Coastal Zone Management in Boka Kotorska Bay

Abstract

Boka Kotorska Bay is one of the most renowned stretches of the Montenegrin coast and it is the Mediterranean’s only fjord. It is a relatively closed ecosystem, which is very sensitive and requires special measures to maintain its environmental as well as developmental status. The specific geographical position and the combination of environmental factors create ecological conditions which are different in many ways from those at the open sea, thus making it a special biotype. At the same time it is area of high interest for tourism development thus being under pronounced pressures by tourism and related urban development. It does not create negative impacts only on marine and coastal ecosystems and natural resources, especially fish stocks, agricultural land, and ecosystem services, but to local economy and sustainability of tourism development. Taking into account the fragility of coastal ecosystems and diversity of activities and uses and their interactions, the Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) has to be applied in order to provide sustainable management of the coastal zone of Boka Kotorska which includes protection, preservation, and improvement of the environmental status. The application of the vulnerability assessment in determining optimal land uses for the terrestrial part of the coastal zone and marine spatial planning that includes the application of the ecosystem approach in analyzing the status of marine environment and determining the objectives of good environmental status provides comprehensive set of tools to support effective coastal zone management of Boka Kotorska. Therefore further urgent actions are necessary as to enforce implementation of ICZM and Marine Spatial Planning instruments and tools in Boka Kotorska.