The Marseille maritime court has fined two yacht captains for anchoring illegally in protected Posidonia meadows on Côte d’Azur. The latest case involves a 51-metre Benetti Falcon  that was found to have anchored in prohibited zones near Cannes in 2023.

The captain of the Cayman Islands-flagged vessel was fined €15,000 for the violation. The court also ordered the Turkish national to pay €22,423 in compensation for ecological damage caused to the Posidonia meadows. The funds will be used for Restoration projects managed by the Rhône Méditerranée Corse Water Agency.

The ruling comes alongside a €4,000 payment for “moral damages” to environmental associations France Nature Environnement (FNE) and the League for the Protection of Birds (LPO), which brought the civil case.

“This case reinforces the importance of preserving Posidonia meadows, which are indispensable for marine biodiversity, carbon storage and coastal protection,” says an FNE spokesperson. “Holding those who harm these ecosystems accountable is essential for their long-term survival.”

The latest ruling follows a similar case adjudicated last year, where the court fined another captain for anchoring in prohibited zones.

The captain of a 26-metre yacht was fined €20,000 for repeatedly anchoring in protected Posidonia areas off Cannes and Saint-Tropez in 2021 and 2022. He was also banned from French territorial waters for a year.

While the case acknowledged the environmental damage, reparations for the ecological harm were not immediately addressed. However, the Hungarian national has now been fined a sizeable €86,537 in compensation for the environmental damage caused to the Posidonia meadows.

Found exclusively in the Mediterranean, Posidonia meadows are often referred to as the “lungs of the ocean” due to their vital role in oxygen production and carbon absorption. They also serve as nurseries for marine life and natural barriers against coastal erosion.

Despite their protected status under French law since 1988, the meadows are increasingly threatened by yachts, specifically their anchors and chains, which devastate the seabed and leave scars that may take centuries to heal.

France implemented regulations in 2020 to combat these threats, banning yachts over 24 metres from anchoring in designated Posidonia zones in the Mediterranean.

“This is not just about penalties; it’s about ensuring that those who harm the environment contribute to its recovery,” says a spokesperson from Préfecture Maritime de la Mediterranée. “The protection of Posidonia meadows is essential for marine biodiversity, the health of our oceans and the communities that depend on them.”

The Marseille court’s recent rulings signal the rise of increasingly stern regulations being implemented in the south of France. However, these cases should also serve as a clear message of what is likely to happen if vessels go into restricted areas.

To view the Posidonia maps released by the Préfecture Maritime de la Mediterranée, click here.

For further information, visit the website of the Professional Yachting Association and Préfecture Maritime de la Mediterranée.

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