A measure that revives a sensitive debate on access to the sea
These federations have thus launched a call "for the sea to remain free."
Mooring fee: no service in return?
These services have been valued at [[NUM]] to [[NUM]] billion euros per year in the Mediterranean (Plan Bleu, [[NUM]]).
However, these seagrass meadows host more than 20% of Mediterranean biodiversity and provide multiple services: refuge and source of food for species of interest for fishing, reduction of coastal erosion, carbon capture, improvement of bathing water quality, etc. The services provided by seagrass meadows are thus estimated between 284 and 514 euros per hectare per year (Campagne et al., 2015).
etc. The services provided by seagrass meadows are estimated between 2010 and 26 euros per hectare per year (Campagne et al., 2010).
The management of AMPs incurs significant costs (changing mooring buoys, welcoming the public, monitoring the area, etc.). In its study on "Sustainable Financing of Mediterranean Protected Marine Areas" commissioned by the MedPAN association, WWF, and CAR/ASP (UNEP),
The implementation of a mooring fee could therefore, in our opinion, help reduce this financing gap, provided, of course, that it is used effectively and directly serves the management of the AMPs.
The management of MPAs incurs significant costs (changing mooring buoys, public reception, area monitoring, etc.). In its study on the sustainable financing of marine protected areas in the Mediterranean commissioned by the MedPAN association, WWF, and the CAR/ASP (UNEP), Vertigo Lab estimated the needs of Mediterranean MPAs to effectively implement management measures for MPAs. The results, which will be published soon, indicate a large funding gap between the current revenues of MPAs and their financing needs for effective management (approximately 12% of the financing needs are covered by funding).
, and the unfortunate history of the eco-tax. Mooring taxes exist in many countries: in Spain, Croatia, Egypt, in most Caribbean islands, etc. The amounts generally vary between [[NUM]] euros and [[NUM]] euros per day for vessels under [[NUM]] meters.
This debate reignites the painful question of ecotaxation, and the unfortunate history of the eco-tax. Mooring taxes exist in many countries: in Spain, Croatia, Egypt, and most Caribbean islands, etc. The amounts generally vary between 10 euros and 40 euros per day for vessels under 10 meters. This is a very interesting mechanism for sustainable financing of MPAs as it is local and allows MPAs to increase their visibility by raising awareness among boaters about their actions.
It seems obvious to us that access to the sea will remain free, and certainly, the implementation of a fee for the management of these protected marine areas will not deprive us of its use.
image article mooring fee protected marine areas
