#4 of 6-Part Blog Series dedicated to the protection of Posidonia and seagrass meadows from the detrimental effects of dragging anchors.
As a company committed to marine conservation, we believe that raising awareness and educating the yachting community about responsible anchoring practices is vital. By starting this series on World Ocean Day, we aim to highlight the importance of protecting our oceans and the delicate ecosystems within them. Throughout this series, we will explore various aspects of Posidonia protection, including regulations, communication strategies, international efforts, and technological innovations.
Join us on this journey as we delve into the measures needed to safeguard these underwater treasures and ensure the sustainability of our marine environments.
The Ultimate Guide to Posidonia Regulations
The ecological significance of Posidonia extends beyond its role as a biodiversity haven. These seagrass meadows deliver invaluable ecosystems, including substantial carbon sequestration and natural coastal defense against erosion. From an economic perspective, the monetary value per hectare of these seagrass beds surpasses that of both coral reefs and the Amazon rainforest, underscoring their immense importance to the Mediterranean’s environmental and economic health.
For the yachting community, understanding the critical role of Posidonia is essential. Responsible anchoring practices and adherence to local regulations help preserve these invaluable marine ecosystems, ensuring the continued beauty and ecological balance of popular cruising grounds.
What Can Be Done For Posidonia Protection
When seagrass ecosystems are degraded or destroyed, their carbon sink capacity is adversely affected or totally lost, and the otherwise stored carbon is released, resulting in increased emissions of CO2 (Source: WWF).
Firstly, education and knowledge sharing is crucial. Our blog aims to give an overview of Posidonia resources for Mediterranean and Adriatic countries where recreational boating is popular, so the yachting community can understand these complex regulatory landscapes and stakeholders involved.
Secondly, understanding various solutions that are available to the yachting sector including eco-moorings and AnchorGuardian that allow for continued boat access while significantly reducing damage to sensitive seagrass habitats.
Here’s our overview of top resources for Posidonia and anchorage regulations in the Mediterranean and Adriatic:
⚓ Maritime Environmental Guidelines
- International Maritime Organization (IMO): The IMO provides guidelines on marine environmental protection, including protocols for anchoring to minimise damage to sensitive habitats like Posidonia. https://www.imo.org
- International Conventions and Protocols: These give a foundation for understanding regional cooperation on protecting the Mediterranean Sea, including specific guidelines on anchorage practices to safeguard Posidonia beds. The key legal frameworks are:
- RAMSAR Convention
- BERN Convention (Annex 1)
- Barcelona Convention (Annex 2)
- The European Union Directives encompassing Posidonia protection:
- EU Habitats, Fauna and Flora Directive (92/43/EEC, Annex 1)
- EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive (2008/56/EC)
- EU Common Fisheries Policy (2006)
- EU Water Framework Directive (2000/60/CE)
⚓ Government and Non-Governmental Organisations
- United Nations Environment Programme / Mediterranean Action Plan (UNEPMAP): This website offers comprehensive guidelines on managing Posidonia meadows, including aspects related to anchorage. https://www.unep.org/unepmap/
- Maritime Préfecture of the Mediterranean: The website of the Maritime Préfecture provides official information and the ARRÊTÉ PRÉFECTORALS on French anchoring regulations and Posidonia protection measures. https://www.premar-mediterranee.gouv.fr/
- MEDPAN (Mediterranean Protected Areas Network): Focused on the management of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in the Mediterranean, MEDPAN’s resources include best practices for anchorage in areas where Posidonia is present. https://medpan.org/en/medpan-network
- Mediterranean Posidonia Network (MPN): This network brings together various stakeholders including authorities, scientists, and environmental organisations. Their website (https://medposidonianetwork.com) provides helpful information on Posidonia zones and protection efforts across countries including Algeria, Croatia, Cyprus, France, Greece, Italy, Malta, Montenegro, Spain and Türkiye.
- Professional Yachting Association (PYA) Knowledge Base: The PYA offers in-depth information on French anchorage regulations, including key facts and the latest updates. Their website includes detailed maps of anchoring zones. https://www.pya.org/knowledge-base/french-anchorage-regulations
- Atlas Posidonia and the Posidonia GOIB App: Developed by the Government of the Balearic Islands to provide real-time geolocation of Posidonia oceanica meadows. It allows users to find safe anchoring areas and prevent damage to Posidonia. https://www.caib.es/sites/cuidamposidonia/en/posidonia_cartography/
- POSBEMED+ Project: This EU-funded project focused on sustainable management of Posidonia beach systems. While the project has concluded, its findings and reports offer insights into Posidonia management practices across the Mediterranean. The POSBEMED+ Project (2022-2023) builds upon the results and findings achieved in the Interreg-MED projects POSBEMED (2016-2018) and POSBEMED2 (2019-2022). https://iucn.org/sites/default/files/2024-07/posbemed-booklet-examples-from-mediterranean-destinations_compressed.pdf and https://posbemed.interreg-med.eu
- The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) : The IUCN’s Mediterranean initiative provides reports and guidelines on the conservation and management of Posidonia beach dune systems and the impacts of anchorage. https://iucn.org/search?key=posidonia
- WWF Mediterranean Marine Initiative: The WWF provides information about preserving Posidonia ecosystems, and guidelines for sustainable anchorage practices to protect Posidonia meadows. Their sailboat ‘Blue Panda’ is mapping Posidonia zones throughout 2024. https://www.wwfmmi.org/medtrends/shifting_blue_economies/leisure_boating/
- National Regulations: For country-specific information, we recommend always consulting the relevant maritime authorities. For example, Malta has various legislative regulations controlling anchoring and mooring, including the Authority for Transport in Malta Act, and Monaco has legislation at Sovereign level alongside the Code de la Mer (Code of the Sea).
⚓ Scientific and Technical Resources or Reports
- Marine Pollution Bulletin, Journal of Environmental Management, Journal of Sea Research: These Science Direct journals provide data and research on Posidonia oceanica focusing on its ecology, threats, and conservation. Articles often discuss insights into coastal management and the impact of anchorage on these seagrass beds. https://www.sciencedirect.com
- Mediterranean Marine Science: Published by the Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, it provides a deep dive into various aspects of Mediterranean marine biology, including seagrass conservation and sustainable anchorage practices. https://ejournals.epublishing.ekt.gr/index.php/hcmr-med-mar-sc/issue/archive
⚓ Mapping Resources
- Service Hydrographique et Océanographique de la Marine (SHOM) : The SHOM provides official maps and data on Posidonia areas and anchorage regulations. Their database athttps://data.shom.fr is considered an authoritative source for maritime information in French waters.
- DONIA & Nav & Co Mobile Apps: These apps offer up-to-date maps of seabed composition and anchorage regulations. They’re a valuable tool for captains to identify Posidonia areas with real-time geolocation to identify safe anchoring zones.
- The European Marine Observation and Data Network (EMODnet): EMODnet provides detailed seabed habitat maps – search on the site for the ‘European Altas of the Seas’, including Posidonia oceanica distribution. https://emodnet.ec.europa.eu/en
- Some countries have developed projects with valuable data on the distribution of Posidonia beds and the impact of anchorage. One example is Spain’s Life Posidonia Project: https://lifeposidonia.caib.es/user/index_en.htm
⚓ Books
- “Seagrasses: Biology, Ecology, and Conservation” by Anthony W. D. Larkum, Robert J. Orth, and Carlos M. Duarte: Available on Amazon, this book is an essential resource for understanding seagrasses globally, including Posidonia in the Mediterranean.
In Summary
As regulations evolve across prime cruising destinations, it’s crucial for superyacht owners, captains, and crew to stay informed.
At AnchorGuardian, we’re committed to elevating awareness about safer anchoring practices alongside Posidonia protection, emphasising the critical role these ecosystems play in maintaining the health of the ocean.
Don’t miss your chance to explore AnchorGuardian’s solutions at the Cannes Yachting Festival or Monaco Yacht Show. Book your demonstration now by email: info@swissoceantech.com
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6-Part Blog Series Overview: