4. Marine and Coastal Systems
Coastlines, Beaches and Marine Natural Capital
Sardinia’s coast is not a single tourism asset. It is a complex system of beaches, dune fields, rocky shorelines, lagoons, islands, estuaries, ports, marine habitats and coastal settlements. These systems support recreation, fishing, boating, biodiversity, landscape quality, public access and local livelihoods. They are also exposed to development pressure, pollution, erosion, climate change and high seasonal visitor use.
The quality of Sardinia’s bathing waters is a major destination asset. ARPAS monitored 1,412 kilometres of coastline during the 2024 bathing season—65% of Sardinia’s approximately 2,200 kilometres of coast excluding minor islands—through 663 monitoring stations. The agency carried out 4,328 samples and 8,656 microbiological analyses. More than 98% of routine samples complied with legal limits for Escherichia coli and intestinal enterococci.[sardegnaambiente]
The formal classification of monitored bathing waters provides a more detailed picture: 642 waters were classified as “excellent”, 17 as “good”, two as “sufficient” and two as “poor”. These results demonstrate generally high bathing-water quality, but they should not be interpreted as proof that all coastal and marine systems are free from environmental pressure. Bathing-water monitoring evaluates microbiological safety at defined sites; it does not measure all forms of marine pollution, habitat condition, plastic litter, anchoring damage, coastal erosion or ecosystem health.[sardegnaambiente]
| Coastal-system component | Destination value | Main pressures requiring management |
|---|---|---|
| Beaches | Recreation, public access, visitor economy and local quality of life | Crowding, erosion, mechanical cleaning, litter, access design and coastal development |
| Dune systems | Beach stability, biodiversity and coastal protection | Trampling, informal paths, parking, invasive species and infrastructure |
| Lagoons and wetlands | Biodiversity, water regulation, birdlife and environmental education | Hydrological change, pollution, disturbance, land use and climate exposure |
| Rocky coasts and coves | Landscape, swimming, boating and marine recreation | Access pressure, erosion, waste, construction and safety |
| Seagrass meadows | Marine biodiversity, seabed stability and coastal resilience | Anchoring, water pollution, sediment disturbance and warming |
| Ports and marinas | Maritime access, recreation, trade and visitor services | Boat traffic, waste, water quality, congestion and shoreline pressure |
| Marine protected areas | Conservation, education, guiding and regulated recreation | Inadequate enforcement, unmanaged boating, disturbance and funding constraints |
Coastal erosion is a material destination-management issue. ISPRA’s national coastal-dynamics indicator reports that erosion has increased in Sardinia since 2006 and that the regional rate of erosion significantly exceeds coastal progradation. Erosion is not caused by tourism alone. It reflects natural coastal dynamics as well as sediment budgets, storms, sea-level rise, coastal engineering, land use and human activity. However, it has direct implications for beaches, tourism infrastructure, access routes, accommodation, public space and coastal ecosystems.[indicatoriambientali.isprambiente]
The relevant response is not simply to defend every stretch of coast with hard engineering. Coastal protection requires an evidence-led combination of monitoring, land-use control, dune restoration, protection of seagrass systems, managed access, beach-maintenance practices, nature-based solutions and—where unavoidable—carefully assessed infrastructure measures.
Marine natural capital is equally important. Posidonia oceanica meadows are endemic Mediterranean seagrass habitats that contribute to biodiversity, carbon storage, oxygen production, sediment stability and erosion reduction. Sardinian environmental authorities identify Posidonia meadows as biodiversity hotspots and emphasise their role in protecting coastlines. Their condition is therefore relevant not only to marine conservation, but also to the long-term resilience of many coastal tourism areas.[sardegnaambiente]
The management challenge is to maintain a high-quality coastal visitor experience without treating beaches, coves and seas as limitless spaces. Access, parking, boating, anchoring, waste, wastewater, beach cleaning, dune protection and visitor behaviour must be managed as connected elements of a coastal destination system.