The document, produced within the context of the Pharos4MPAs project, aims to explore the ways Marine Protected Areas are affected by leisure boating. It provides a set of practical recommendations to avoid or minimise its environmental impacts.
QUESTIONS THIS PRACTICE MAY HELP ANSWER:
- How do leisure boating activities affect MPAs?
- How can the impacts of leisure boating activities on MPAs be prevented/avoided/reduced?
IMPLEMENTATION CONTEXT:
The report was developed within the context of the PHAROS4MPAs project. It explores the ways Mediterranean MPAs are affected by activities in the growing Blue Economy, and provides a set of practical recommendations for regional stakeholders on how the environmental impacts of key sectors can be prevented or minimised.
ASPECTS / OBJECTIVES:
By bringing together different stakeholders and exploring the major issues experienced in MPAs, PHAROS4MPAs´ goal is to provide examples of best practices and facilitate information exchange among MPAs affected by similar pressures. The aim of this project was to produce practical recommendations to address the potential negative interactions between leisure boating and MPAs.
METHOD:
The report is based on the results provided in the Capitalisation Report on leisure boating in the Mediterranean Marine Protected Areas (developed as part of the PHAROS4MPAs project), which provides extensive scientific evidence on the interactions between leisure boating and MPA.
MAIN OUTPUTS / RESULTS:
Leisure boating is one of the main nautical sectors in the Mediterranean Sea, and consequently, this sector represents a real threat to the marine environment. The report provides an overview of leisure boating activities in the Mediterranean and their interactions (potential coexistence) with the MPAs. It includes the study on the benefits and impacts of leisure boating on Marine Protected Areas (i.e. anchoring impacts, impacts from human waste etc.), and also provides a set of recommendations for public authorities, MPA managers and the leisure industry with the purpose of preventing and minimising environmental impacts.
Transferability:
While recommendations relate to the impacts of leisure boating on MPA in the Mediterranean Sea, the model and method could potentially be applied in other regions.
Responsible Entity:
Pharos4MPAs project.
Funding Source:
Interreg MED Programme 2014-2020
Contact person:
Project coordinator:
Catherine Piante
WWF-France
6 Rue de Fabres 13001 Marseille
E-mail: cpiante@wwf.fr
Ph.: +33 4 96116946