ENVIRONMENTAL PRESSURE OF MAJOR TOURISM INFRASTRUCTURES: MARINAS

Descrizione 1
Update date
Authors

Giovanni Finocchiaro, Silvia Iaccarino

Abstract

Tourism infrastructures, particularly marinas, exert significant pressure on marine and coastal environments. This indicator monitors potential environmental pressure by considering the total number of berths and their distribution per kilometer of coastline across Italian regions. The 2022 data indicate an increase in the number of berths compared to 2021, with a higher concentration in certain regions, implying greater environmental impact on local ecosystems.

Description

Ports serve as key tourist attractions along the coast, enhancing the value of local tourism services and attracting specific types of tourists. However, the construction of marinas can harm coastal ecosystems and impact shoreline morphology.

The size of a marina, in terms of number of berths, serves as a key indicator of usage intensity. The greater the number of berths in a marina, the higher the potential for:

  • Pollution from boat maintenance activities
  • Environmental stress caused by recreational maritime activities

Studies have shown that antifouling paint residues are commonly found in marina sediments, posing a threat to the local marine environment.

This indicator presents, for coastal regions, the number of berths per kilometer of coastline.

Purpose

To monitor the potential pressure exerted by marinas on local marine environments.

Policy relevance and utility for users
It is of national scope or it is applicable to environmental issues at the regional level but of national relevance.
It can describe the trend without necessarily evaluating it.
It is simple and easy to interpret.
It provides a representative picture of environmental conditions, environmental pressures, and societal responses
It provides a basis for international comparisons.
Analytical soundness
Be based on international standards and international consensus about its validity;
Be theoretically well founded in technical and scientific terms
Presents reliability and validity of measurement and data collection methods
Temporal comparability
Spatial comparability
Measurability (data)
Adequately documented and of known quality
Updated at regular intervals in accordance with reliable procedures
Readily available or made available at a reasonable cost/benefit ratio
An “adequate” spatial coverage
An “appropriate” temporal coverage
Main regulatory references and objectives

There are no mandatory compliance targets for this indicator. However, it falls within the broader regulatory framework of European and national policies on sustainable tourism, as well as EU regulations on marine-coastal ecosystems (e.g., Marine Strategy Framework Directive, Habitat Directive, and national/local spatial planning regulations).

DPSIR
Pressure
Impact
Indicator type
Descriptive (A)
References

Anthony, E.J. (1997): The status of beaches and shoreline development options on the French Riviera: a perspective and a prognosis. Journal of Coastal Conservation 3: 169-178.

Cassi, R., Tolosa, I. & De Mora, S. (2008): A survey of antifoulants in sediments from Ports and Marinas along the French Mediterranean coast. Marine Pollution Bulletin 56 (11): 1943-1948.

Konstantinou, I.K. & Albanis, T.A. (2004): Worldwide occurrence and effects of antifouling paint booster biocides in the aquatic environment: a review. Environment International 30: 235-248.

Martínez, K., Ferrer, I., Hernando, M.D., Fernández-Alba, A.R., Marcé, R.M., Borrull, F. & Barceló. D. (2001): Occurrence of Antifouling Biocides in the Spanish Mediterranean Marine Environment. Environmental Technology 22 (5): 543-552.

Frequenza di rilevazione dei dati
Annuale
Fonte dei dati
ISPRA
MIT (Ministero delle Infrastruttura e dei Trasporti)
Data availabilty

https://www.mit.gov.it/node/20030

Spatial coverage

Coastal regions
Time coverage

2010-2022
Processing methodology
  • Number of berths per region.
  • Types of structures.
  • Length-based classification.
  • Percentage distribution per kilometer of coastline.
Update frequency
Year
Qualità dell'informazione

This indicator aligns with the European equivalent identified by the Eionet network, coordinated by the European Environment Agency, as a potential reporting mechanism on Tourism and Environment.

The quality of the information is high, thanks to the authority of the data sources, which ensure good measurability and comparability over time and space.

State
Poor
Trend
Negative
State assessment/description

In 2022, the total number of berths in Italy reached 157,950, with an average density of 19.1 berths per kilometer of coastline, showing a slight increase compared to the previous year.

The pressure varies across regions:

  • Friuli-Venezia Giulia and Liguria have high berth densities.
  • Sardinia, Calabria, and Sicily have significantly lower values.

This disparity suggests variable environmental pressures on coastal ecosystems (Table 1).
Trend assessment/description

Between 2010 and 2022, the number of berths increased by 5.3%, indicating a rise in potential pressure on coastal areas, particularly in regions with a high density of marina facilities.

This expansion implies growing environmental pressure, with potential impacts on water quality and coastal morphology (Figure 1).
Comments

Nel 2In 2022, Italy recorded 157,950 berths, distributed among marinas, docking areas, and mooring points.

On average, there are 19.1 berths per kilometer of coastline, though there is significant regional variability:

  • Friuli-Venezia Giulia has the highest density, with 131.3 berths per kilometer of coastline.
  • Liguria, which has the highest total number of berths (22,496) on 378 km of coastline, reports a density of 59.5 berths per kilometer.
  • The lowest berth densities are found in Sardinia, Calabria, and Sicily, even though these three regions together account for approximately 54% of Italy’s total coastline length (Figure 2).

Compared to 2021, the number of berths per kilometer of coastline increased primarily in Calabria (+38.1%) and decreased in Liguria (-9.5%).

Data
Tabella 1 posti barca_ADA2024_.xlsx (16.672 KB)
Headline

Table 1: Number of berths by region, type of structure and length classes and percentage of distribution per km of coastline (30/09/2022)

Data source

ISPRA processing on MIT and ISPRA data

Note

Structures intended for pleasure boating can be classified, pursuant to Article 2 of Presidential Decree No. 509 of 2 December 1997, into three types: tourist port, marina, and mooring point;

Headline

Figure 2: Number of berths per kilometre of regional coastline (2021–2022)

Data source

ISPRA processing on ISPRA and MIT data

Headline

Figure 2: Number of berths per kilometre of regional coastline (2021–2022)

Data source

ISPRA processing on ISPRA and MIT data

English