ATTIVITÀ RICREATIVE, SERVIZI ECOSISTEMICI E SVILUPPO TURISTICO NELLE VALLI DA PESCA: IL CASO DI STUDIO DI VAL NOGHERA

The fishing valleys located in coastal lagoons represent hybrid socio-ecological systems in which extensive aquaculture, environmental management and recreational practices coexist. Despite the growing attention paid to ‘cultural ecosystem services’, empirical analyses investigating how regulated recreational activities contribute to ecosystem management and territorial development remain limited. This study aims to analyse the Val Noghera fishing valley (Grado Lagoon, Italy) to explore the role of recreational and hunting activities as components of cultural ecosystem services as well as their potential contribution to sustainable territorial management and tourism development. This research adopts a qualitative approach, combining academic and documentary literature, ecological information on the presence of waterbirds, and a semi-structured interview analysed through the Push–Pull–Mooring framework. The results highlight how regulated hunting practices may support the coexistence of recreational use, biodiversity conservation, and economic sustainability. The study contributes empirical insights to the literature on cultural ecosystem services, and it offers reflections for the sustainable governance and planning of managed coastal wetlands.