Buoy fields for all. The French love boating. Italians less so

While bathing concessions are being discussed in Italy, France is launching a plan for the development of boating. One of the key points is the development of moorings in buoy fields. An example to be copied

A strategic plan for boating. What Italy should do, the French have done. . Getting our noses wet.

The strategic plan for French boating

So, while we for our 8,000 km of coastline are getting passionate about the rearguard battle over bathers, complete with European infringement proceedings to maintain the disgraceful status quo of bathing establishments infesting the Italian coast, France is launching a 2025/2030 strategic plan. With concrete objectives aimed at fostering the orderly development of recreational boating, achieving an ecological transition with reduction of harmful emissions and preservation of the seabed and marine fauna, regulating the life cycle of boats (scrapping), simplifying regulations to encourage the reconversion of facilities and moorings.

With the simple goal of providing a boost to the development of boating and tourism on the water, available to everyone, not just the “rich.” It is a national plan concerning the sea and coastlines that provides concrete tools that are then implemented by the regions. Here where each region goes its own way while the government does not have a shred of an idea for the development of boating. Probably because it does not know what it is talking about. And it does not realize that the turnover of Italian nautical tourism as a whole is estimated today at 6 billion euros (the French one is similar) but can grow in 10 years to over 10 billion euros with a development plan like the French one.

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Italy second in Europe for kilometers of coastline

We had fun coming up with a ranking of the major nations bordering the Mediterranean. Here is the result: first on the list is Greece with 13,000 kilometers of coastline, second isItaly with 8,000, and third is Croatia with 6,000. France is only fourth with 5,000 kilometers of coastline, and Spain is last with only 1,700 kilometers.

Buoy fields for all

But back to the French plan. One of the cornerstones of the French strategy is that of ZMELs (organized anchorage zones), simply put, buoy fields. The aim is to limit the impact on the seabed (posidonia first and foremost) of anchoring but above all to reduce the pressure on traditional ports in the summer months when it becomes difficult if not impossible to find a berth in port.

All this at affordable prices, encouraging the installation of buoy camps favored by public funding to reach economic autonomy in short order, without asking anyone for money. Ultimate goal: to break down the economic barriers that limit access to recreational boating and to foster the market for smaller units, a gateway to recruit new enthusiasts. Also organizing the anchoring of super and mega yachts, an alternative to the wilderness of these huge recreational “ships.” Those who sail in the summer along the Mediterranean coasts know what we are talking about.

The French have surveyed the existing situation and it is already quite an achievement to know exactly where the buoy fields are and boats of what size they can accommodate, how long they can be stationed, how much they cost. None of this exists in Italy.

A map of buoy fields in the French Mediterranean can be found at the beginning of the article. But why don’t we copy them as well, instead of just chasing the electoral whims of beach owners?

Luca Oriani

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