In August 2024, the administration of the Maddalena National Park overnight stays at anchor were banned in all bays and strict penalties were introduced. A heavy blow for the popular anchorage area on the north-eastern tip of Sardinia. The Maddalena National Park includes almost all the larger and smaller islands in this area: La Maddalena, Caprera, Santo Stefano, Spargi, Budelli, Razzoli, St. Maria and others.
High penalties for offences
With Decree 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 overnight a punishable offence. Crews had to pay upwards of 596 euros if they were found anchored during the restricted period between 9 pm and 8 am. The ban on anchoring at night was justified on the grounds of protecting the Posidonia seagrass. It has been known for years that anchors severely damage seagrass beds. For this reason, anchoring over these meadows has long been prohibited throughout the EU. However, it is questionable whether the seagrass is less at risk during the day than at night. It would probably make more sense to increase the number of national park buoys.
Anchor ban caused booking slump
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.
Court rules in favour of plaintiffs
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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The administrative court agreed with the plaintiffs that the regulations were not in the interests of environmental protection. Instead, they would favour the shipping companies in La Maddalena and disadvantage others who would be affected by the night-time anchoring ban. Originally, Article 1 of the regulation prohibited anchoring from 9 p.m. to 8 a.m. throughout the archipelago. However, a further article restricted this ban: The ban did not apply to pleasure craft owned by people resident in La Maddalena or by companies that have been based there for at least five years.
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.
