Nautical Tourism

THE RECREATIONAL BOATER’S GUIDE TO CORRECT SAILING IN MARINE PROTECTED AREA PARKS

Italian Marine Industry Association has recently promoted several initiatives aimed at raising recreational boaters’ awareness of Italy’s Marine Protected Area Parks. The Italian Marine Industry Association supports the creation of protected marine areas and understands the importance of their role in protecting the marine environment.Nevertheless, we would like to point out that the rules and guidelines for sailing in Italy’s many protected areas differ widely from area to area and across different types of parks and can be confusing.
There are different regulations depending on if a certain marine park is state or regionally run, if it is a submerged extension of a land-based park, if it is an underwater park, if it is an international park, if it is a nature preserve- as in the case of Montecristo –if it is what is called an “oasi blu” or blue oasis etc.
The range of stewardship from state to local governments and beyond and the degrees of protection allocated to certain areas can make correct usage of these important parks very difficult.
The ratification of the Pact of Sustainable Navigation promoted by the Ministero dell’Ambiente, Italian Marine Industry Association and the most important ecological associations has provided the basis for a reform that will make the usage rules more uniform and easier to understand and follow.
The following guide has been created so that recreational boaters can have guidelines to all of Italy’s Marine Protected Areas at their fingertips.
This guide’s aim is to help recreational boaters enjoy these important protected areas while respecting wildlife and its natural habitat.