The PEGASO project has developed a core set of indicators that are instrumental in measuring the implementation of ICZM policies and programmes. This core set addresses the specific requirement of Article 27 of the ICZM Protocol to ‘define coastal management indicators´ and ‘establish and maintain up-to-date assessments of the use and management of coastal zones´ for the Mediterranean Sea.

First and foremost, the approach used to select the indicators took into account the ICZM policy objectives. The list of indicators was drawn up by searching the literature on methodologies and experience in different regions. The final version incorporates 15 indicators, with each policy objective represented by at least 4. The indicators are intended to show the state of coastal zones in terms of the environment, social and economic activities, threats and the status of ICZM implementation. A methodological factsheet has been developed for each one and is now available for testing by partners.

Each indicator is also linked to the corresponding ICZM Protocol article and the ecological objectives of the UNEP Mediterranean Action Plan, which have been defined as part of the road map for application of the ecosystem approach in the Mediterranean as well as the future implementation of the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive. The indicators address:

• Added value per sector

• Area of built-up space
• Bathing water quality
• Commercial fish stocks
• Coastal and marine litter
• Economic production
• Employment
• Erosion and instability
• Hypoxia
• Natural capital
• Number of enterprises
• Population size and density
• Risk assessment
• Sea level rise
• Water efficiency index

Coupled with a formal reporting system, this set of indicators applied at different scales (regional and local) and in a variety of sites could in future feed into national reporting procedures and contribute to overall ICZM assessment in the region. For PEGASO project partners, the next step will be to test their applicability regionally and in the CASE sites.