The study site is a typical exposed shallow Mediterranean coastal area
affected by several potential sources of pollution.
Onshore fish farming and hatchery and offshore
aquaculture facilities (four Farmocean cages and two
Bridgestone modules, each of six cages) are present in
the area for the cultivation of a number of fish species,
mainly the seabass Dicentrarchus labrax and the
seabream Sparus aurata (∼250–300 t year−1 in the
onshore farm and ∼1000 t year−1 in the offshore farm),
which are fed various types of commercial pellets.
Offshore cages are located about 2 km off the coast
opposite the inshore facilities. An additional outfall,
consisting of sewage and domestic waste, discharges
within the coastal area about 2 km to the north of the
cages.