Attention, yacht captains, particularly those navigating vessels over 24 metres in the Mediterranean. The degradation of Posidonia meadows has reached alarming levels, prompting intervention by local, national, and international bodies, as well as marine conservation organisations. 

Posidonia, a seagrass unique to the Mediterranean found within 40 metres of the shoreline, plays a crucial ecological role but the estimated regression of these meadows has amounted to 34% in the last 50 years. These meadows reduce wave intensity by 20% on adjacent coastlines and serve as habitats and breeding grounds for over 400 plant and 1000 animal species. They also contribute significantly to the Mediterranean Sea's oxygen supply and act as an effective carbon sink, capturing ten times more CO2 than terrestrial forests.

Yet these invaluable underwater meadows are under threat. Damage to them can take decades, even centuries, to heal. In the past two decades, anchoring boats, particularly larger yachts over 24 metres, have been identified as significant sources of this damage. Regulators are taking note, and unless the superyacht industry can take a more active role in addressing the issue, access to the many iconic anchoring areas may be lost.

Areas indicating high concentrations of Posidonia meadows

In 2019, the French government, specifically the Préfecture Maritime de Méditerranée, launched a legal framework focusing on Posidonia protection. This initiative has resulted in regular updates of anchoring regulations and rules around the French coastline. Local police, under the new anchorage control policy, are tasked to identify and fine offenders. Penalties for such offences start at €15,000, escalating to potential incarceration for repeat violations.

However, enforcement isn't the sole objective. As Ornella Valls, Adjoint au Chef du Pôle Environnement à la Préfecture Maritime de Méditerranée, clarifies:

 “It is not our sole interest to solely exercise punishment or regulate traffic. We welcome any thoughts or ideas on how best to serve the industry’s interests and find a compromise between the various economic needs.”

Serving in the French Navy since 2013, Valls started as a supply officer and Officer of the Watch onboard the French frigate Montcalm, responsible for administration, legal advice and finance. Later she oversaw public relations during the Jeanne d’Arc campaign, which led her to the Pacific Ocean. Now working in the French coast guard’s administration, she is in charge of the protection of the maritime environment and anchoring regulations.

“We focus strongly on taking the yachting specifications and needs into account and seek smart anchoring solutions,” says Valls.

The Préfecture has proposed organised buoy fields and moorings as a practical solution. The placement of these buoys accommodates yachting trends and peak seasons, with maps readily available. Official navigation tools, such as NAV&Co and the DONIA app, provide up-to-date information on Posidonia habitats and current regulations.

Valls emphasises effective anchoring: “It is obvious to us that the superyacht industry is more than aware of how best to anchor. Still, we try to communicate four exemplary anchoring tactics:

 • Choose sandy areas, easily identifiable by their clear bottom, using sonar.

• If unsure, anchor at a depth greater than 30m in the French Riviera or 40m in Corsica.

• Reverse at a maximum of 0.5 knots and lift the anchor with the bow of the boat directly above it.

• For short mooring periods, avoid using excessive chain length.”

The resolution of the Posidonia crisis requires collective action, with various countries bordering France expressing interest in implementing similar protection measures. As Valls concludes, “In the end, it comes down to every one of us playing our part to protect and preserve a lifestyle and ecosystem we love.”

The onus now falls on the captains, the true heroes of this narrative, to be mindful of their anchoring practices. Additionally, it is vital to take up the call for input from Valls, and others, and contribute innovative ideas and solutions for consideration. Safe and effective anchoring locations are critical to the industry, but so is the seabed on which it relies. Finding superyacht-specific solutions will be challenging, and the operators have a vital role to play. 

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