Sunce as a Guardian of the Sea and a Partner to Sailors
The Sunce Association is one of Croatia’s leading civil society organizations dedicated to environmental protection, nature conservation, and sustainable development. Their long-term vision is a Croatia in which natural resources – especially the sea and the coastline – are preserved, while the growth of local communities aligns with the principles of sustainability and the circular economy. Within this framework, Sunce has for many years been actively promoting environmentally responsible nautical tourism, including yacht and boat rentals, charter services, and cruising experiences that respect and safeguard marine ecosystems.
Sunce’s Strategic Goals in the Context of Nautical Tourism
According to the Sunce Association’s Strategic Plan for the period 2021–2026, one of their four core objectives focuses specifically on preserving marine ecosystems. This objective includes expanding the network of marine protected areas, establishing zones of strict protection, and reducing the negative impact of human activities on the sea and coastal regions. In the nautical sector, activities such as developing management documents for protected areas, improving management capacity, and educating relevant stakeholders are particularly important. This means that Sunce works to ensure that charter companies, charter agencies, and everyone involved in boat, yacht, or vessel rental fully understand how crucial sustainable anchoring and responsible use of the marine environment truly are.
The Environmental Campaign “And Where Do You Anchor?” and Its Importance for Charter Sailors
One of Sunce’s most visible initiatives related to nautical tourism is the environmental campaign “And Where Do You Anchor?”. The campaign aims to raise awareness among sailors, charter tourists, and yacht or boat skippers about choosing safe and environmentally appropriate anchoring locations. A special emphasis is placed on Posidonia seagrass meadows, highly sensitive marine habitats whose destruction through careless anchoring can result in long-lasting ecological consequences. Sunce continually reminds the public that anchoring on sandy seabeds is generally harmless, but dropping anchor on Posidonia (or dragging the anchor across it) causes permanent damage to these vital underwater meadows. Such impacts can reduce biodiversity, disrupt the ecosystem, and harm the long-term tourism potential of regions that depend on clean waters and unspoiled natural beauty.
The ecological dimension of safe and responsible anchoring is particularly important in the Adriatic; you can read more about this topic in Sunce’s article at the following link: https://sunce-st.org/en/news/how-does-free-anchoring-affect-the-adriatic-sea/
Cooperation Between Sunce and Charter Companies – Moving Toward a Sustainable Tourism Model
The Sunce Association actively collaborates with charter companies and agencies involved in renting boats, yachts, and other recreational vessels. Many of these companies have expressed interest in participating in marine conservation efforts: they offer vessels for sea-cleaning actions, help distribute informational materials about Posidonia, and take part in the education of skippers and guests. Their cooperation is based on a shared interest — nautical tourism generates significant economic value for Croatia, yet excessive pressure caused by unregulated anchoring and irresponsible behaviour can seriously damage the marine environment. Sunce encourages charter companies to adopt sustainability-oriented policies: educational programs for skippers and guests on responsible anchoring, providing informative materials on board, promoting ecological mooring fields, and tracking the environmental footprint of vessels. Their aim is to connect the charter business with environmental principles so that charter operations become responsible, not merely profitable. Through joint campaigns, cooperation with local communities, marinas, and public institutions, Sunce works to reduce pressures on the Adriatic while protecting the very resources on which nautical tourism and recreation depend.
Practical Action: Projects, Education, and On-the-Ground Interventions
Sunce implements a wide array of projects and campaigns that directly influence the nautical sector and the overall experience of spending time at sea. For instance, within the BIOPRESSADRIA (Interreg) project, strategies are being developed to minimize the negative impact of tourism on the Adriatic, including the installation of ecological mooring systems. Additionally, through the SASPAS project — carried out by Sunce in cooperation with Italian partners — several ecological anchorages have already been installed, and Sunce actively promotes sailor education through the “Become a Posidonia Keeper” campaign, encouraging charter crews to adopt sustainable practices. There is also the ASPEH project, which aims to address the growing loss of biodiversity. Sunce is a member of the international Mediterranean Posidonia Network, whose mission is to “Protect 100% of the Posidonia meadows in the Mediterranean Sea.” On the national level, Sunce organizes events such as conferences and participates in fairs where they promote messages about responsible sailing, chartering, and cruising. They additionally operate the Green Phone service at +385 (0) 72 123 456, enabling sailors and citizens to report marine pollution, improper anchoring, or other harmful practices — contributing to greater accountability and community involvement.
Key Challenges in the Yacht and Boat Charter Sector
Charter companies and nautical agencies often operate within a business model where profit takes priority, which can conflict with Sunce’s sustainability goals. In many situations, companies lack internal sustainability policies: skippers and guests are frequently insufficiently educated about the damage caused by anchoring in Posidonia meadows, about the improper discharge of wastewater, or careless disposal of plastic waste. Marina infrastructure is sometimes inadequate as well — facilities for wastewater reception may be limited, pump-out stations for blackwater are missing, and some marinas do not promote ecological mooring fields or regularly monitor the environmental footprint of vessels. The absence of unified, sector-wide guidelines for sustainable charter operations remains one of the biggest obstacles to long-term protection of coastal ecosystems.
How Sailors Can Contribute: Responsible Chartering and Sailing Practices
Sunce encourages sailors — both charter guests and vessel owners — to adopt an environmentally aware approach during their vacation and cruising. Here are several key practices they promote:
- Anchor on sandy seabeds or use ecological moorings whenever possible, rather than practicing free anchoring in sensitive marine habitats.
- Lift the anchor vertically, avoiding any dragging across the seabed, especially when anchoring near Posidonia meadows.
- Use marina wastewater reception systems instead of discharging at sea, and follow all environmental guidelines issued by marinas.
- Reduce single-use plastics and sort waste aboard the vessel, making use of educational materials that charter companies may provide.
- Report irresponsible behaviour through Sunce’s Green Phone hotline or to port authorities, and participate in marine-conservation campaigns whenever possible.
For practical tips on responsible anchoring and marine conservation, be sure to download Sunce’s informational leaflet: https://sunce-st.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/SUNCE_letak_FINAL_za-web.pdf
The Role of the State and Local Communities in Sustainable Charter Tourism
Sunce emphasizes that local communities and government institutions play a crucial role in creating a framework that supports sustainability at sea. Their proposals include establishing a network of ecological mooring fields, strengthening inspection systems related to wastewater discharge, and introducing legal regulation for free anchoring. It is also essential that nautical tourism be planned through an environmentally acceptable model within national strategic documents: since a large portion of charter vessels operate within global yacht-rental networks, the sector’s needs must be balanced with policies aimed at preserving marine habitats. Collaboration between charter companies, public institutions, and organizations such as Sunce can lead to systemic improvements — coordinated advocacy, the promotion of sustainable business models, and the education of tourists.
The Importance of Sunce for the Future of Nautical Tourism and Seaside Recreation in Croatia
Ultimately, the Sunce Association represents a bridge between nautical tourism and nature conservation. Their work encourages charter companies, skippers, and everyone who enjoys summer holidays on yachts, boats, or sailing vessels to behave responsibly. Through projects such as BIOPRESSADRIA and SASPAS, combined with education, monitoring, and advocacy, Sunce strives to ensure that Croatia remains a country of clean coastlines, protected Posidonia meadows, and environmentally conscious sailors. In truth, sustainability in nautical tourism is not just an option — it is a necessity for the future of the Adriatic and for all vessels that travel along its shores.
Call to Action: If you participate in nautical tourism — as a skipper, charter guest, or vessel owner — join Sunce, stay informed, anchor responsibly, and become part of a community that protects the sea while enjoying sailing, yacht rental, and cruising in Croatia.
Greetings from the Sunce Association!
Association for Nature, Environment and Sustainable Development Sunce
Obala hrvatskog narodnog preporoda 7
21000 Split, Croatia
Email: info@sunce-st.org
Tel: +385.21.360779
Fax: +385.21.317254
Green Phone: +385.72.123456
