Visiting superyachts are up, but Posidonia damage has plummeted

The number of superyachts visiting protected Corsica zones rose between 2020 and 2025, according to Cancemi—yet the proportion of yachts that actually anchored on protected Posidonia seagrass fell from 35% in 2019 to 6% in 2025. It’s by no means perfect, but it’s an early sign that regulation can change yacht behavior without necessarily pushing yachts away.

"Large vessels are not, in principle, incompatible with conservation objectives," says Cancemi. "However, such compatibility requires activities to be carried out in compliance with environmental regulations—and practices to be adapted to the sensitivity of marine ecosystems."

Other marine parks are taking a similar approach. Port-Cros National Park is developing new mooring infrastructure around Porquerolles, complemented by “smart-buoy technology”; in the Balearics, authorities have combined new eco-mooring fields with 20 new surveillance vessels to monitor restricted areas.

‘There’s a safety concern when yachts are concentrated in one area’

But these changes have not always been popular with yacht crew. Camille Medina, EU charter fleet manager at Hill Robinson, says anchoring restrictions in Pampelonne near Saint-Tropez and Posidonia protection measures in Corsica and the Balearics were "very frustrating" for captains and charterers when they were first introduced.

"It is still an issue today, as most of the bigger yachts can hardly find shelter at anchor," Medina says. There is also a natural "safety concern", she tells me, whenever there’s a high concentration of yachts in one area—with the likelihood of incidents, including crashes, spiking in unfavourable weather.

It’s a fair point, even as the yachting industry comes to accept the new status quo. Though Harald Van Exem, executive vice president and director of yacht services at Fraser, argues instead that this structured framework actually provides crew a reprieve from the daily “anchorage scramble”.

“When you transition an area like Porquerolles or La Maddalena from a free-for-all anchorage to a structured management network, captains get operational predictability,” he explains. “Guests also enjoy a far more exclusive, peaceful environment without the noise and disruption of unregulated traffic.”

Despite tighter rules, demand for the Mediterranean remains strong

Some yachts are already designed for this new reality. The 262.6-foot Artefact comes to mind—designed with hybrid propulsion and dynamic positioning that eliminates the need to anchor altogether— as does the 254.7-foot Yersin and 194-foot Akula. If restrictions become widespread, these design features could easily switch from novelty to necessity.

It’s not like yacht owners are deterred, either. Medina says the industry “expected” tighter rules in the South of France—and the associated higher costs—to reduce demand, but the area has instead remained “one of the most sought-after destinations” for charter.

"In many cases, owners actually appreciate knowing that these protections exist," adds Fraser charter broker Pierrik Devic. “Guests are asking for crystal-clear water, exceptional snorkeling and quieter anchorages—these are things that need to be protected.”

The Mediterranean doesn’t have to choose between superyachts and conservation. But accommodating both will require more than simply telling captains where they can’t drop anchor. It will mean building the infrastructure to give large yachts somewhere else to go—and convincing an industry accustomed to open water that, in the Mediterranean, space is not quite as limitless as it looks.