4. Marine and Coastal Systems
Coastal Resilience, Pollution and Adaptation
Sardinia’s coasts are exposed to the combined effects of natural processes, climate change, coastal development and intensive seasonal use. Erosion, storm impacts, sea-level rise, marine warming, pollution, wastewater failures and habitat degradation can each affect beaches, dunes, ports, settlements, tourism facilities and public access.
The management challenge is not to preserve every shoreline in a fixed physical state. Coastlines are dynamic systems. Beaches, dunes, seagrass meadows, lagoons and sediment flows change over time in response to waves, storms, currents, vegetation, human intervention and rising sea levels. Sustainable coastal management therefore requires an understanding of these processes rather than treating beaches solely as commercial tourism infrastructure.
ISPRA’s coastal-dynamics indicator shows that Sardinia has experienced a net prevalence of erosion over shoreline advance since 2006. The indicator does not attribute erosion to one cause. Coastal change can result from storms, sediment interruption, hard infrastructure, port works, river-basin changes, loss of dunes, seagrass decline, climate change and wider land-use patterns. For destination management, the implication is that tourism facilities, parking areas, access routes and accommodation should not be planned on the assumption that beach width and coastal stability will remain unchanged.[indicatoriambientali.isprambiente]
Sardinia has begun to develop more integrated responses. The Regional Department for Environmental Protection is working on a Climate Action Plan for Villasimius, focused on the Capo Carbonara Marine Protected Area, as a pilot for nature-based solutions intended to counter coastal erosion and protect marine ecosystems. The Regional Coastal Conservation Agency, Conservatoria delle Coste, also coordinates integrated coastal-management activity and has supported dune protection and restoration initiatives, including work at Maria Pia beach in Alghero.[regione.sardegna][sardegnaambiente]
| Coastal challenge | Destination implication | Evidence-based management direction |
|---|---|---|
| Erosion and storm impacts | Loss of beach area, exposure of paths and facilities, reduced safety and higher maintenance costs | Monitor shoreline change; restore dunes; manage access; avoid new exposure; use nature-based solutions where appropriate |
| Sea-level rise | Greater exposure of coastal infrastructure and low-lying areas | Integrate sea-level scenarios into land-use, investment and emergency planning |
| Dune degradation | Reduced biodiversity and weaker natural coastal protection | Use boardwalks, defined access, fencing, restoration and visitor communication |
| Seagrass decline | Reduced marine biodiversity, sediment stability and erosion resilience | Protect meadows from anchoring, pollution and damaging coastal activities |
| Marine litter and microplastics | Reduced environmental quality, wildlife impacts and visitor dissatisfaction | Prioritise source reduction, port facilities, fishing-gear management, monitoring and beach-cleaning methods that avoid habitat damage |
| Wastewater and water pollution | Health risk, ecosystem damage and reputational harm | Maintain infrastructure, monitor water quality and establish rapid-response procedures |
| Coastal construction | Habitat fragmentation and increased asset exposure | Apply rigorous planning, environmental assessment and setback principles |
Bathing-water quality is an important, but partial, indicator. ARPAS reported that more than 98% of routine samples from the 2024 bathing season complied with the applicable microbiological limits. This represents a significant public-health and destination-quality strength.[sardegnaambiente]
However, bathing-water classification does not measure every aspect of coastal environmental condition. Marine litter, microplastics, chemical contaminants, ecological status, seabed condition and habitat disturbance require separate monitoring. Under Italy’s Marine Strategy framework, ARPAS carries out monitoring designed to assess progress towards Good Environmental Status in Sardinian marine waters. Its microplastic monitoring programme samples seven coastal locations twice each year.[progetto-strategia-marina-arpas.hub.arcgis][snpambiente]
The priority for Sardinia is to connect coastal protection, biodiversity conservation and visitor management. Nature-based solutions—such as dune restoration, wetland recovery, protection of seagrass systems and the re-establishment of natural coastal processes—may reduce risk while also strengthening biodiversity and destination quality. They should not be treated as universal substitutes for engineered measures; their suitability depends on local geomorphology, exposure, settlement patterns, infrastructure and ecological condition.
A resilient coastal destination is one that plans for change. It avoids reinforcing development patterns that increase exposure, protects the ecosystems that buffer climate impacts, manages visitor access with sensitivity to place, and monitors whether interventions improve both environmental condition and public value.