The pressure of tourism, the continuous increase of yacht sizes and the rapid degradation of the Posidonia meadows are the main elements that have led the French Maritime Prefect to develop new policy to further organize anchorages along the Mediterranean coastline.
As a result of Framework Order n° 123/2019 new local regulations have been signed to protect endangered marine plant species, most notably Posidonia.
What is Posidonia seagrass?
Posidonia seagrass is a highly protected species found in the Mediterranean Sea in depths of between 0 and 40 metres. Known as the ‘lungs of the Mediterranean’, it is considered by scientists as among the most representative and important Mediterranean shoreline ecosystems.
Posidonia meadows play a number of key functions: they produce and export large amount of organic matter and oxygen, form complex ecosystems supporting a high level of biodiversity, represent areas of refuge and nursery for fish and invertebrates, reduce sedimentation and stabilize the seabed reducing coastal erosion.
Posidonia only grows a few millimetres per year and once destroyed it cannot be restored. Although it represents a protected species since 1988, nowadays it is highly threatened. Infact scientists assert that Posidonia meadows in the Mediterranean have decreased irreparably by 33.5% in the last fifty years, due to coastal activity, with physical damage from yachts anchorage contributing significantly.
That’s why the French Maritime Prefect has developped new environmental protection anchoring regulations along the Mediterranean coastline.
New French Anchoring Regulations
The anchoring restrictions along the French Mediterranean Coast are regulated by the following decrees:
- Decree n° 155/2016 organizes the anchoring of large vessels (over 45 meters). It creates anchoring areas for these vessels and an authorization or declaration regime.
- Decree n° 123/2019 sets the general framework for anchoring and stopping of vessels in the French territorial waters of the Mediterranean Sea.
- New local regulations decline the Decree n° 123/2019 by establishing a coherent system of anchoring and stopping areas along the coastline for vessels from 24 meters.
The last October the Vice-Admiral Laurent Isnard, Maritime Prefect for the Mediterranean, signed the first decrees regulating the anchoring of vessels of 20 or 24 metres and over for the Alpes-Maritimes department. These decrees identify the areas where anchoring is prohibited with two key objectives for the Mediterranean: to protect the Posidonia meadow, which is essential to the ecosystem and underwater biodiversity, and to reinforce safety at sea. The areas where anchoring is prohibited will henceforth be marked on the SHOM charts, which every yachtsman is obliged to have on board, and checks will be carried out by the authorised agents of the State administrations at sea.
The aim of those new regulations is to balance the various interests, both public and private, by taking into account the economic weight of the yachting industry whilst protecting marine habitats.
Please find here below all the local environmental legislastion.
| Zone | Decree | Date | |
| From the mouth of the Var river to the limits of the French, Monegasque and Italian territorial waters | 204/2020 | October 2020 | |
| From the pointe de l’Aiguille to the mouth of the Var river | 205/2020 | October 2020 | |
| From the old port of Saint-Raphaël to the pointe de l’Aiguille | 249/2020 | December 2020 | |
| From the Cap Pinet to the pointe de Saint Aygulf | 248/2020 | December 2020 | |
| From the Cap Bénat to the pointe lof the Bonne Terrasse | 247/2020 | December 2020 | |
| From the Cap Carqueiranne to the Cap Bénat | 246/2020 | December 2020 | |
| From the pointe Fauconnière to the Cap Cépet | 245/2020 | December 2020 | |
| Perimeter of the La Ciotat bay – abolished and replaced by n° 099/2021 | 011/2021 | January 2021 | |
| Perimeter of the Calanques National Park – new | 099/2021 | May 2021 | |
| Perimeter of the N2000 site « côte bleue marine » | 159/2016 | July 2016 | |
| Off the coast of the Hérault department | 020/2021 | February 2021 | |
| Off the coast of the Pyrénées-Orientales department | 221/2020 | November 2020 | |
| Perimeter of the Bouches de Bonifacio reserve | 206/2020 | October 2020 | |
| Perimeter of the Natural Marine Park of the Cap Corse and the Agriat – new | 095/2021 | May 2021 |
In addition to the above regulations, the French Maritime Prefect is strongly encouraging local alternatives to anchoring, such as the light anchorage and equipment zones, which are equipped with ecological equipment to allow anchoring that is not destructive to the Posidonia. This will enable yacht Captains to enjoy a safe and eco-friendly mooring.
For more information we invite to visit the website of the Préfecture Maritime de la Mediterranée.
Should you need any further assistance do not hesitate to ask. We remain always at your disposal!
