4. Marine and Coastal Systems
Marine Protection, Boating and Recreational Pressure
Sardinia’s marine environment is central to the island’s identity, visitor economy and ecological resilience. It supports swimming, sailing, diving, recreational fishing, boating, wildlife observation, coastal walking, local fisheries and a wide range of tourism businesses. It also contains habitats that can be damaged by cumulative recreational pressure if access is not properly managed.
The island has an extensive framework of marine protection. ISPRA identifies eight marine protected areas in Sardinia, including the marine area associated with the La Maddalena Archipelago National Park, covering 93,674 hectares in total. Other Sardinian sources report seven formally designated Marine Protected Areas following the creation of Capo Spartivento. The difference reflects classification and counting methods, particularly whether the marine component of a national park is included within the MPA total. The paper will retain this distinction rather than present a single number without definition.[indicatoriambientali.isprambiente][medseafoundation]
Marine protected areas can provide legal zoning, restrictions on activities, ecological monitoring, visitor guidance, mooring management, conservation education and enforcement. Their effectiveness, however, depends on whether rules are understood, resourced, monitored and applied.
Boating and anchoring require particular attention. Anchors can damage Posidonia oceanica meadows and other sensitive seabed habitats through repeated physical disturbance. A study of Sardinian coastal erosion and integrated management noted that intense summer tourism demand can endanger Posidonia meadows through mechanical damage caused by boat anchoring.[iris.cnr]
The relevant issue is not that boating is inherently incompatible with conservation. It is that use must be matched to ecological sensitivity, spatial zoning and practical management capacity.
| Recreational activity | Potential ecological pressure | Management response |
|---|---|---|
| Private boating | Anchoring damage, waste, noise, crowding and shoreline disturbance | No-anchor zones, ecological moorings, vessel limits, waste facilities and enforcement |
| Sailing and motorised excursions | Cumulative pressure at coves, reefs and sensitive coastal areas | Route planning, operator guidance, passenger education and site monitoring |
| Diving and snorkelling | Contact damage, disturbance and concentrated use at popular sites | Zoning, certified guides, visitor codes, group-size controls and habitat monitoring |
| Recreational fishing | Pressure on target species and conflict with conservation objectives | Area-specific rules, licensing, catch controls and compliance monitoring |
| Beach and cove access | Trampling, litter, dune erosion and disturbance | Defined paths, parking management, visitor caps where necessary and restoration |
| Marine events | Temporary crowding, noise, vessel concentration and waste | Event permits, environmental conditions and post-event monitoring |
Mooring systems can offer a practical alternative to anchoring in sensitive areas, but they require investment, maintenance, clear information and enforcement. They must also be planned carefully so that they do not create new pressures through increased access or excessive vessel concentration.
Marine litter and microplastic pollution add another dimension. ARPAS conducts marine microplastic monitoring twice each year at seven Sardinian sites: Alghero, Arbatax, Cagliari, Olbia, Oristano, Porto Botte and Porto Torres. The monitoring forms part of Italy’s Marine Strategy programme. This is a valuable evidence base, but seven monitoring locations cannot by themselves describe the condition of every coastal or marine tourism area.[snpambiente]
A Sardinian fisheries initiative supported by the European Commission illustrates the potential for local action. Over six months, participating fishers completed 136 trips and removed 2,400 kilograms of litter from Sardinian waters at depths between 10 and 800 metres. Such initiatives can contribute to awareness, data collection and local stewardship. They do not replace upstream waste prevention, port reception facilities, wastewater management, fishing-gear controls or systematic marine-litter monitoring.[oceans-and-fisheries.ec.europa]
The destination-management lesson is that marine protection needs to be integrated with visitor management. This means connecting protected-area rules with marina operations, charter businesses, boat hire, tour operators, accommodation providers, visitor information, enforcement, waste facilities and real-time communication.
A high-quality marine destination is not one in which every cove is available for unrestricted use. It is one in which access, recreation, biodiversity and local livelihood are managed together, so that the natural systems attracting visitors remain viable for future residents and visitors alike.