ADN Mediterráneo and Marilles create a decalogue for sailors

The Mediterranean Sailors Association (ADN) and the Marilles Foundation have jointly developed a practical ten-point guide for sailors, aiming to promote navigation that is more respectful of the environment and to contribute to the protection of marine biodiversity.

This guide provides clear and accessible recommendations to help sailors make informed decisions that protect marine biodiversity and ensure respectful coexistence at sea.

Available both in print and online, the document offers straightforward guidance to easily remember regulations and best practices while at sea. It includes links to up-to-date information on protected marine areas, recreational fishing regulations, and official tools such as the Balearic Government’s Recreational Fishing Logbook. It also contains useful resources, such as apps indicating anchoring areas free of seagrass (Posidonia) or citizen science initiatives open to sailor participation.

To reach the widest possible audience, the ten-point guide will be published on the ADN Mediterráneo and Marilles Foundation websites and distributed at yacht clubs and marinas. It has also been produced in three languages: Spanish, Catalan, and English.

“The quality of the experience at sea improves when it takes place in a vibrant, well-preserved marine environment. With this guide, the recreational boating sector has the opportunity not only to avoid and reduce its impact but also to actively contribute to the conservation of the Mediterranean. We hope this document helps make every voyage more respectful of the sea and inspires those who enjoy it to take meaningful steps to ensure its protection,” says Aniol Esteban, director of the Marilles Foundation.

“The Mediterranean faces a wide range of environmental pressures, and it is essential that recreational navigation is not seen as harmful but as an ally in its preservation. Sailors are direct observers of what happens at sea and are often the first to detect threats to biodiversity. That is why we believe collaboration between institutions, foundations, and administrations is key to achieving effective, balanced, and consensual measures,” says Lorenzo Pons Moncada, president of ADN Mediterráneo.

Marine conservation is a collective effort. This leaflet is an example of how the social nautical sector and environmental organizations can join forces to ensure that the Mediterranean remains a vibrant sea, today and in the future.