What are the French laws on anchoring around Posidonia seagrass?

The anchoring of yachts along the French Riviera and Corsica is strictly regulated.

Local regulations have been implemented since 2016 to restrict yachts from anchoring in certain locations in an effort to protect Posidonia seagrass (decree 123/2019).

Find out more about Posidonia and the importance of protecting it.

Penalties

There are serious penalties for captains that do not adhere to the anchoring regulations around Posidonia. Captains can face imprisonment, fines of up to €150,000 and bans from navigating in French Mediterranean waters if these laws are broken.

French anchoring regulations

Decrees for each bay

See below links to all the anchoring decrees as of 2023 for each bay in the South of France and Corsica:

Decree 159/2016: Côte Bleue Marine | Martigues | Sausset-les-Pins | Carry-le-Rouet

Decree 204/2020: Cap Ferrat | Cap Martin

Decree 205/2020: Pointe de l’Aiguille | Embouchure fleuve Var | Golfe de la Napoule | Golfe Juan

Decree 206/2020: Réserve naturelle des Bouches de Bonifacio | Les Moines – Ventilègne | Bonifacio-Pertusato | Sant’Amanza-Lavezzi | Porto-Vecchio – Santa Giulia | Baie de Figari | Golfe de Ventilegne | Secteur de la Madonetta | Secteur de l’Escalier du roi d’Aragon | Île Piana | Punta de Sperone | Îles Lavezzi | Cala di Grecu | Golfe de Sant’Amanza

Decree 245/2020: Point Fauconnière | Cap Cépet | Baie de Bandol

Decree 246/2020: Cap Carqueiranne | Cap Bénat | Golfe de Giens | La Badine

Decree 247/2020: Cap Bénat | Pointe de Bonne-Terrasse | Baise de Briande | Baie de Bon-Porté

Decree 248/2020: Cap Pinet | Pointe de Saint-Aygulf | Saint Tropez | Plage des Cigales | Plage de la Nartelle | Plage de la Gaillarde

Decree 249/2020: Saint-Raphaël | Pointe de l’Aiguille

Decree 020/2021: Hérault | Cap d’Agde | Frontignan | Palavas-les-Flots

Decree 095/2021: Haute-Corse | Plage de Saleccia | Plage du Loto | Centuri | Barcaggio | Erbalunga

Decree 099/2021: Baie de la Ciotat | Baie de Cassis | Baie de Lecques

Decree 101/2021: Baie de Cassis | Plage de Bestouan | Plage de la Grande Mer | Cal. De Port Miou

Decree 197/2022: Port d'Argelès-sur-Mer | Cap Béar | Cap d'Osne | Port de Banyuls | Cap l'Abeille | Cap Cerbère (Cervera) | Port-Vendres | Collioure

Decree 250/2022: L'Estaque | Anse de Malmousque | Pointe Rouge | Anse de la Maronaise | Calanqye de Marseilleveyre | Île de Riou | Calanque de Sormiou | Calanques de Morgiou | Sugiton et Pierre Tombées | Calanques d’En Vau et de Port Pin | Frioul (Île Ratonneau) | Ouest Pomègues (Frioul) | Calanque de Port Pomègues

Decree 319/2022: Est-Corse | Port de Bastia | Sud Bastia | Lucciana-Venzolasca | Golfe de Porto-Vecchio

Charts

View the charts by SHOM for each of the bays in the Yachting Pages Mediterranean directory.

Other information

Yachts over 45 metres (147 feet) must contact the semaphore at least one hour before anchoring and declare their anchoring plan. Please note that it can be refused for environmental and safety reasons.

Yachts over 80m (262ft) must receive anchoring authorisation from the semaphore, according to the CROSSMED statement.

While anchoring, the yacht must be on VHF standby (channel 16) and DCS (70), and they must also transmit their AIS information. In case of emergency, captains should call 196 or make a distress call on channel 16 VHF.

The use of a Dynamic Positioning system should not exceed two hours and is strictly forbidden within 500m (1,640ft) of the shoreline.

Underwater lights are also strictly forbidden during the night, as is voluntarily approaching marine mammals within 100m (328ft) (decree 172/2021).

Anchoring tips

Captains should aim to anchor in sandy areas, which are easily identifiable by their clear bottom on sonar, or depths of over 40m (131ft). When departing, captains should reverse at a maximum of 0.5 knots and raise the anchor with the bow of the boat directly over it.

For more information on how best to anchor in the South of France and Corsica, download the free app DONIA via the QR code below.

Mooring buoys

A number of mooring buoys have been implemented across the French Riviera and Corsica.

Find out where the buoys are situated and how to book them.

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Want to know more about Posidonia and the anchoring regulations in French waters? Read more articles.