A Marine Protected Area is a delimited area at sea with special rules to conserve habitats, species and seascapes. The goal is to ensure the long-term protection of marine ecosystems while promoting sustainable fishing, responsible tourism, research and environmental education.
Italian Marine Protected Areas are divided into three zones with different levels of protection:
- Zone A: Integral reserve, here fishing, bathing and boating are prohibited except for scientific purposes.
- Zone B: General reserve, where controlled activities such as diving and sport fishing are allowed.
- Zone C: Partial reserve, with low-impact use.
According to the Ministry of the Environment, Italy currently has 29 Marine Protected Areas, plus 2 underwater parks and the vast Cetacean Sanctuary, for a marine protected area of about 228,000 hectares and more than 700 km of coastline.
Specifically, the current Marine Protected Areas are:
In Sardinia: Capo Testa – Punta Falcone, Capo Carbonara, Tavolara – Punta Coda Cavallo, Capo Caccia – Isola Piana, Isola dell’Asinara, Penisola del Sinis – Isola di Mal di Ventre.
In Sicily: Capo Milazzo, Capo Gallo – Isola delle Femmine, Egadi Islands, Ustica Island, Ciclopi Islands, Pelagie Islands, Plemmirio.
In Liguria: Bergeggi Island, Portofino, Cinque Terre.
Tuscany: Shoals of Meloria.
In Lazio: Secche di Tor Paterno, Ventotene and Santo Stefano islands.
In Campania: Kingdom of Neptune, Punta Campanella, Santa Maria di Castellabate, Costa degli Infreschi and Masseta.
In Apulia: Porto Cesareo, Tremiti Islands, Torre Guaceto.
In Calabria: Capo Rizzuto.
In Abruzzo: Torre del Cerrano.
In Friuli-Venezia Giulia: Miramare.
The submerged parks of Baia and Gaiola are located in the Gulf of Naples, while the Cetacean Sanctuary, established to protect fin whales, dolphins and other pelagic marine mammals, covers stretches of Liguria, northern Tuscany and southern Sardinia, extending to the French coast.
Procedures for the establishment of four new Marine Protected Areas were initiated in 2025:
In Tuscany: Uccellina Mountains – Grosseto ants – Foce dell’Ombrone.
In Basilicata: Coast of Maratea.
In Campania: Island of Capri.
In Latium: Pontine Islands.
Marine Protected Areas not only cover the open sea, but also cover coastal areas and beaches, with limitations on:
- Construction: new construction is prohibited along protected beaches.
- Bathing access and activities: in accordance with what is defined by Zones A, B and C, bathing is allowed in B and C at a controlled speed, without levy or damage.
- Environmental education: beaches become places to raise awareness, with information panels, guided tours and surveillance.
- Repopulation and sensitive habitats: protection of dunes and spawning grounds.
Establishing new sanctuaries and maintaining existing ones is a significant step toward a more protected sea and forward-looking managed beaches to ensure a livable and sustainable coastline for all.
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