The RAMOGE area covers the most touristic regions of France, Monaco and Italy and is a major destination for boaters, yachts and cruise ships, which have various types of environmental impacts.
The worst impact that has raised the concerns of the RAMOGE Agreement is the degradation of the posidonia meadow, caused by the development of yachting and due – in particular – to anchoring practices. The mechanical action of anchors and chains rips the leaf bundles and scrapes the rhizomes. The anchoring of a pleasure boat (lowering, staying and raising the anchor) tears up an average of 16 to 34 bundles of posidonia oceanica.
Two scientific studies were published in 2012, one French and one Italian:
After describing the current situation and identifying anchoring impacts on posidonia, these studies propose solutions to develop anchoring areas for large yachts, which are useful tools for coastal management bodies in the RAMOGE area and beyond.
Find more information about the protection of posidonia on the corresponding page.
In addition to these studies, in 2019, given the development of the yachting and cruise industry in the RAMOGE area, the Agreement believed it was important to carry out a comprehensive study on the two sectors to collect objective data, so as to ensure the long-term sustainable management of the activities.
In 2019, cruises in the Mediterranean accounted for 14.8% of the global cruise industry market, with a sustained annual growth of around 5%. Despite the Covid-19 pandemic, the business will definitely boom again in the coming years.
The Mediterranean, the second cruise destination for large yachts.
It is estimated that more than 3,000 yachts each year (around 60-70% of the world fleet) visit the “golden triangle” located between the Côte d’Azur, the Ligurian Riviera and Sardinia, mainly from April to October.
Study for the sustainable management of cruise shipping and yachting
The study, published in 2021, takes stock of environmental impacts, describes the regulatory framework of the signatory countries to the Agreement for each activity and, based on factual observations, proposes recommendations and possible improvements.
Volume 1:
Executive summary: methodological approach, findings and recommendations
Volume 2-1:
Cruise shipping – Assessment of environmental impacts and recommendations
Volume 2-2:
Yachting – Assessment of environmental impacts and recommendations
Volume 3:
Analysis of existing certification tools and information and awareness-raising initiatives
Volume 4:
Anchorage design for cruise ships and large yachts
Cruise shipping:
Supplements from 1 January 2022
As a follow-up to the study, the Agreement will develop an action plan for the RAMOGE area in cooperation with the different players.
