Illegal rentals, lack of port regulations, shipwrecks. The Calanques National Park, a protected natural gem near Marseille, is subject to marine overcrowding, which affects the tranquility of the place, the safety of its users, but above all its biodiversity. In the Mediterranean Sea and its blue hues, near the rocks and pines that make up the remarkable landscapes of the Park, sometimes dozens of ships follow one another in the same place or enter the bathing areas.
During the summer and long weekends in the spring, those rentals multiply, causing chaos “peaceful” which also poses security risks, laments Nicholas Chardin, deputy director of the park. Because some of these boats are rented illegally, despite the strict regulations of the Calanques National Park, which require boat rentals to be approved by dozens of professional rental companies and limit rentals between individuals to five times a year.
Violation of this regulationendangers people’s livesand harms the environment, “oil spill at sea” and the waste that spreads when a ship sinks, as happened twice in a few days at the beginning of summer, Nicolas Chardin regrets. Damage recovery is borne by the owners of the ships, who can also be taken to the court of Marseilles. On April 4, two boat rental companies were fined 5,000 euros and 3,000 euros in damages. Unauthorized professional charterers face up to two years in prison, a fine of 100,000 euros and confiscation of the vessel.
Ecological damage
“Environmental damage is now taken into account by the magistracy– asserts Marseille flooring. Since 2012 and the creation of the park, the court has adopted a criminal policy.unique and adapted to this protected area“, establishing “Calanques Task Force“. The result: the number of annual procedures in this area of illegal renting has increased.”about ten in 2019 and 2020, and 19 in 2021“, according to the prosecution.
In order to limit the damage, periodic inspections are carried out by patrols, which “inspect port, fishing and commercial activities” to transport tourists by boat, the National Park notes. But this fightcomplicated“because”they are often very casual users from the sea“Who Sometimes Ignores”basic rules of navigation“, regrets the spokesperson of the Maritime Prefecture.
“For us, having accreditation is just an advantage“, welcomed Jérôme Bonnier, rental manager of Easy rent Boat anyway. “In Marseille, as elsewhere, there are tenants who are a bit wild or who talk nonsense to customers.“, he notes. “But renewing the park’s permit every year shows confidenceto his company, according to him.
A phenomenon that is impossible to quantify
If eight out of ten vessels visiting the National Park are chartered vessels, it is not possible to constantly count the frequency of Calanques, explains Nicolas Chardin. Only the air surveillance system will let you know “that at time T there are X hundred ships in the park– he elaborates.Ecometers can be placed on trails, but not in the sea“.
Some highly touristic rivers, such as the En Wau, are already off-limits to boating to reduce attendance. “Eventually, we will be less and less able to navigate the Calanques” predicts Mr. Bonnier. In general, the busiest creeks have tried to limit the flow of visitors this summer. A visit to the Calanque de Sugiton between July 15 and August 15 was therefore subject to pre-booking.
Source: Le Figaro
