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Figures that confirm the sector's weight
Today, boating and yachting are practiced by nearly 15 million people in France, including 4 million regular boaters. The industry employs some 150,000 people and is supported by over 5,500 companies covering construction, distribution and services. The industry generates sales of over 5 billion euros, while exporting 80% of its production. France is the world's second-largest manufacturer of pleasure boats, and number one in Europe, with the Bénéteau-Jeanneau group leading the way in sailboat production.
More than a million pleasure craft were registered in 2022, the majority of them small motorboats: 56% measuring less than 5 meters. The two main registration regions are Brittany (25%) and the South of France (24%). The industry also relies on a dense network: 473 seaports with 252,000 berths, 556 river bases and nearly 1,000 nautical bases on land and in overseas territories. Every year, some 100,000 yachting licenses are issued, confirming the attractiveness and vitality of the industry.
Three strategic priorities
The roadmap has three main components:
- Energy and environmental transition the aim is to accelerate the decarbonization of the fleet and infrastructures. This involves the development of electric or hybrid propulsion, the use of alternative fuels, "clean ports" certification and the ramping up of the ship dismantling industry.
- Attractiveness and safety the priorities include modernizing the yachting license, unifying the status of the vessel, better supervising rental platforms, and developing maritime education and professional training. The aim is both to attract new generations of sailors and to make sailing safer.
- Territories and practices nautical tourism: the roadmap aims to strengthen the role of marinas and ports as key players in the local economy, develop the nautical tourism offer, and better reconcile environmental protection zones and recreational boating activities. A national nautical observatory will be set up to monitor changes in usage and anticipate needs.
Thirteen priority actions from 2025
Of the thirty or so actions identified, thirteen are considered to be priorities and should be implemented rapidly. These include: supporting boatbuilders in life-cycle analysis, developing a distribution network for alternative fuels, modernizing the boating license, setting up a nautical observatory, and supporting the dynamism of the overseas sector through appropriate tax measures.
A common course to 2030
This roadmap is the operational implementation of the National Sea and Coastal Strategy 2024-2030. It sets a common course for the State, local authorities and yachting professionals to maintain France's world leadership in yachting, while adapting to environmental and societal challenges.
What the roadmap changes for boaters
Marinas will gradually be certified as "clean harbors" and equipped to accommodate electric or hybrid boats. This means more charging stations and better waste and wastewater management. ZMELs (zones de mouillage et d'équipements légers) will also be developed to limit the impact on the seabed and to offer alternatives to unauthorized anchoring.
The boating license will evolve to include new aspects of safety and respect for the environment. Candidates will need to be trained in eco-gestures and risk prevention, in a context of increasing use of the sea.
The roadmap calls for the distribution of carbon-free fuels (such as HVO â?" hydrotreated vegetable oil) in marinas. Boats equipped with internal combustion engines should gradually gain access to these solutions, in parallel with the growth of electric power.
Nautical centers will be identified and better supported, with the aim of becoming key players in local sustainable development. Local authorities will be encouraged to use these structures to promote safe, environmentally-friendly practices.
Mooring regulations will be clarified and made easier for boaters to understand (signs, applications such as Donia or Nav&Co). The aim is to protect Posidonia meadows and other marine habitats, while preserving the possibility of sailing in non-sensitive areas.
