Marine Protected Area Cinque Terre: rules

17/07/2009

As summer comes, we start wishing to go to the sea, and discover new shores and bays. However, if we are sailing in the waters of a Marine Protected Area, we should know dos and don'ts for a good and tranquil navigation, always protecting the environment.

It is not hard to find our way in the Cinque Terre's body of water, bearing in mind that the Matine Protected Area, founded in 1997, is divided in just three zones: A, B and C.

Zone A – Strict Nature Reserve
In both the A Zones of strict nature reserve, Punta Montenero in Riomaggiore and Punta Mesco in Monterosso, boaters are not allowed to enter, stop nor pass. Entering is possible only in case of rescue missions, surveillance, service or scientific research activities, authorized by the protected area's manager. In these two high environmental value zones bathing is possible only whereas regulated by the protected area's manager, based on turns related to the monitoring of the protected area. The zone can be reached by sea or by land, exclusively swimming or with a rowing-boat, without using swimfins, footwear or gloves.

Zone B – General Nature Reserve
In both the B Zones of general nature reserve, Punta Montenero in Riomaggiore and Punta Mesco in Monterosso, motor boats are allowed to navigate when authorized by the protected area's manager, with a speed not exceeding 5 knots (5 naut. miles per hour), while jet skis and PWCs transit is forbidden. Other premitted activities are: authorized collective transport boats navigation, authorized mooring in proper mooring buoy fields, retail fishing only for professional fishermen and fishing firms running their activity both individually or jointly, having their registered office in the municipalities of the Cinque Terre. It is also possible to practice guided fishing for fishermen having their registered office in the Cinque Terre and recreational fishing, with fishing line and rod, authorized by the protected area's manager, and guided scuba-diving tours.

Zone C – Partial Nature Reserve
In the C Zone, which includes the whole body of water in front of the Cinque Terre, are allowed all the activities permitted in the A and B Zones, motor boats navigation is also permitted, with a speed not exceeding 10 knots (10 naut. miles per hour), while jet skis and PWCs are not allowed.
The boater can moore in proper zones indicated with mooring buoys, while authorized inhabitants can practice recreational fishing with fishing line and rod, and recreational fishing with lobster pot and longlines, with a maximum number of 70 fish hooks per person and a maximum number of 200 fish hooks per boat. Scheduled boat navigation is also permitted, with a speed not exceeding 15 knots (15 naut. miles per hour).

For more information check the zones map available on the Protected Marine Area website or phone  0187-76031

http://www.parconazionale5terre.it/news_marina_primo_piano.asp