Your Guide to Sustainable Sailing

Hey sailors - welcome aboard! Whether you're chartering a yacht or sailing with a skipper, have a scroll to find practical tips on mooring fees, local customs and eco-friendly practices.

As a non-profit, Green Sail partners with nautical tourism providers to promote sustainable tourism. Happy sailing!

Best Chartering Practices

Avoid Anchoring on Posidonia
  • Never anchor on Posidonia beds which are essential for producing oxygen, reducing carbon dioxide and purifying water
  • Look for light blue areas - these are usually sandy bottom, Posidonia-free areas
  • Take note of anchoring restrictions
  • Avoid night anchoring due to the lack of visibility
  • Position your anchor correctly to avoid dragging and use the appropriate chain length
Manage Blackwater
  • Be sure to check for local restrictions, including no discharge zones before you go sailing
  • Prioritise marinas with appropriate blackwater pump-out services
  • Organise your trip so you have enough time to reach the marina and discharge your bank before it is full
Manage Greywater
  • Clear food scraps, oils and fats from dirty dishes before washing to prevent them from entering drains
  • Keep kitchen waste on board the vessel for later disposal at a land-based facility
  • Use marina facilities for showering, laundry, dishwashing etc.
  • Be mindful when using cleaning products and avoid those that use phosphorus, nitrate and microplastics
What?

Actions to Take on Your Sailing Trip

Limit Energy Use

Turn off lights and devices when not in use

Be Mindful of Accidental Littering

Don’t leave items on the deck to be blown away, littering the sea

Separate & Recycle Waste

Collect and sort rubbish generated onboard and take it ashore to recycle

Limit Water Use

Be conscious of your water use

Wind Power

Enjoy wind power and choose to sail over motoring while producing less noise pollution

Protect Natural Wildlife

While sailing, you may encounter wildlife like dolphins and turtles! Remember to maintain a distance to protect both them and yourself

How?

Croatian Sailing Resources

Mooring Fee Guide

Plan your route based on the locations you want to visit, considering points of interest and your budget

Recycling Bin Locations

Check out this map to see the Dalmatian Marinas that offer recycling facilities to their staff and guests

What?

Environmental Issues in the Adriatic

Ocean Acidification

Ocean acidification in the Adriatic Sea weakens coral reefs and shellfish, disrupts marine ecosystems and threatens local fisheries and biodiversity

Water Pollution

Water pollution, caused by factors like industrial waste, agricultural runoff and plastic waste, damages marine habitats by introducing harmful toxins into the Adriatic food chain

Eutrophication

Eutrophication in the Adriatic Sea causes nutrient buildup, leading to harmful algal blooms, reduced oxygen levels and disruption of marine ecosystems

Rising Sea Levels

Rising sea levels in the Adriatic are threatening coastal ecosystems, increasing the risk of flooding, eroding shorelines, and endangering infrastructure and human settlements along the coast

Extreme Weather

In the Adriatic, rising sea temperatures and altered marine biodiversity are leading to more frequent extreme weather events, which threaten coastal ecosystems and human settlements

Changes to Biodiversity

Warming in the Adriatic is causing habitat degradation and disrupted food chains, leading to a decline in cold-water species and an increase in invasive warmer-water species

What?

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