In August 2024, the management of the Maddalena National Park had the Overnight stays at anchor prohibited in all bays and draconian penalties were introduced. A bitter blow for the popular anchoring area at the north-eastern tip of Sardinia. The Maddalena National Park includes practically all the larger and smaller islands on the north-eastern tip of Sardinia: La Maddalena, Caprerea, Santo Stefano, Spargi, Budelli, Razzoli, St. Maria and several more.
Violations could result in high penalties
With Ordinance No. 1 of 6 August 2024 on "General provisions for the safeguarding and protection of habitats and the seabed [...] in the national park", the park administration made anchoring between 9 p.m. and 8 a.m. a criminal offence. Crews were fined upwards of 596 euros if they were found anchored during the restricted period. The reason given for the anchoring ban was to protect the Posidonia seagrass in the national park. It has been known for years that the yachts' anchors severely damage the meadows. For this reason, it has long been forbidden - throughout the EU - to anchor over them. However, it is questionable whether the sea grass is less at risk during the day than at night. It would probably make more sense to increase the number of national park buoys.
Decline in bookings due to anchor ban
In the weeks following the announcement of the parking regulations, charter companies sounded the alarm. The effects of the ban had already been felt in the volume of bookings. "As a direct result of this regulation, many customers are opting for alternative sailing destinations that allow more flexibility and overnight stays at anchor. We are already seeing a noticeable drop in bookings for the 2025 season for ships sailing in this region. If this trend continues, it will inevitably lead to a significant loss of revenue for all companies involved," wrote the Vereinigung Deutscher Yacht-Charterunternehmen e.V. (VDC) in a statement following the announcement of the ban. Together with the VDC and the Association of Recreational Boaters of North-East Sardinia, Boomerang Yachting had launched an initiative and filed a lawsuit against the ban. On 18.06.2025, the decision was made in favour of the plaintiffs. At least for the time being. The interim injunction suspends the regulation until the main hearing on 28 January 2026. Until then, anchoring overnight is once again possible in all areas of the park and in the zones permitted under the anchoring regulations, both with and without the use of mooring buoys.
Is it really about environmental protection?
The initiators of the lawsuit "fully understand the importance of environmental protection measures." However, the restrictions would have a significant negative impact on the attractiveness of La Maddalena for sailing tourism - an important economic factor for the area. They also question whether a selective ban on night anchoring would actually benefit the environment.
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In its reasons for suspending the ordinance, the administrative court also agreed with the plaintiffs' view that the regulations did not serve the objectives of environmental protection. On the contrary, the regulation favoured the shipping companies of La Maddalena to the detriment of all others who were prohibited from anchoring at night. While Article 1 of the contested ordinance prohibited mooring in the entire archipelago from 9 p.m. to 8 a.m., this prohibition was restricted in a second article: it was not to apply to "recreational craft owned by recreational boaters resident in the municipality of La Maddalena or owned by companies that have had their registered office in the municipality of La Maddalena for at least five years from the date of approval of this ordinance.
According to VDC, the charter companies would like to enter into dialogue with the regional administration to discuss possible solutions or remedial measures that strike a balance between environmental protection and the economic needs of the local charter industry.
