Every summer, the Côte Vermeille draws thousands of visitors. How can you enjoy its seabed without spoiling it? Underwater ecotourism offers an answer: to explore while leaving as little trace as possible.
A fragile and sought-after coastline
Seagrass meadows, gorgonians, coralligenous reefs: the richest habitats are also the most sensitive. It is no accident that France’s first marine reserve was born here, in 1974: the Cerbère-Banyuls nature reserve protects around 650 hectares of this coastline. Trampling, anchoring, litter, disturbing wildlife… visitor pressure comes at a cost to the sea if it goes unmanaged.
The visitor’s good habits
- Favour supervised operators (clubs, waymarked trails).
- Keep your distance from wildlife: look, don’t touch.
- Choose a sunscreen that is kind to marine environments.
- Take all your litter home with you, even the smallest pieces.
Gentle ways to get around
Kayak, paddleboard, coastal paths, shuttle boats: reaching the coast in other ways eases the pressure on the most fragile sites while opening up some lovely viewpoints.
Tourism that protects
At MERveille, ecotourism will take concrete form: demonstrations, workshops and committed partners will offer simple habits to slip into your beach bag, so that discovery also serves conservation.
Access rules for protected sites change over time; check with the managing bodies and local tourist offices.