Marine and coastal natural resources in the recreational boating sector in Spain: State of the art and changes needed

Abstract

The recreational boating industry plays a crucial role in coastal areas, contributing to the economy, culture and people's well-being. To ensure an adequate development, marinas and sailing clubs need to be exploited sustainably. The main objective of the study is to assess how marinas utilise the coastal environment, both terrestrial and marine, surrounding their facilities as a natural resource of touristic and recreational interest in order to see if this exploitation is sustainable. We reviewed 215 Spanish marina websites, analysing various aspects, including the presence of information about the surrounding natural environment and other services within the port. We found that most Spanish marinas' websites showed significant inattentiveness in providing information on the natural environment. The results suggest that promoting the knowledge and know-how of the sustainable use of marine and coastal environments is essential as a necessary first step to prevent their deterioration and promote their protection and restoration. Practical implications indicate that closer collaboration among various stakeholders involved in the recreational use of the sea and coast is required to ensure a genuine sustainable development.