Dominique, the founder of the company Croisières Grand Bleu, started to take people to explore the amazing sites of the Gulf of Porto in 1989, on his first boat Le Grand Bleu, with 7 passengers on board. And he is still at the helm of one of his boats today. Passionate about sailing and in love with his island, he has always been aware of evolving in the heart of a magnificent and preserved nature. When he started his activity, he was one of the few actors of the nautical economy (his company is the oldest in the region) and the human impact was minimal.

But in recent years, he has seen an expansion in the development of all kinds of nautical activities and has measured the risk of degradation of the majestic sites that he loves so much.

Other company owners had the same thought and wanted to act together.

This is how the association of the Scandola Boatmen was born and how a charter of good practice was established in order to combine preservation of the environment, access to the sites for the general public and maintenance of the economic life of the local community, which allows Corsican families to continue to live off their activity in their villages.

Our company is a member of the Association des Bateliers de Scandola and Dominique is an active participant.

As a signatory of the Charter of good conduct and commitment to protect the Scandola Reserve established by the Association in consultation with the Regional Natural Park of Corsica, it is committed to respecting each article.

In the same perspective of preservation of the natural heritage, we have been involved in the project of the committee responsible for the Natura 2000 area Calvi-Cargese and we are committed to respecting each article of the Charter of Good Practice of which we are a signatory.

The commitment of the companies of the sea promenade, towards a quality production adapted to the expectations of the clientele and to the maintenance of the ecosystem of the Reserve of Scandola.

Article 1 : I commit myself to convey a positive image of the sea ride by behaving as a responsible professional, to create and promote a friendly atmosphere for my passengers.

Article 2 : I commit myself to ensure that the staff of my structure holds the necessary certificates and titles for the implementation of my activities, to develop through training, the skills necessary for a quality service based on respect, preservation and knowledge of the RN Scandola.

Article 3 : I commit myself to never voluntarily damage the integrity of the visited site and to educate my sailors to this practice, to respect an adapted speed and to proscribe excessive and useless accelerations near the rocks.

Article 4 : I commit myself to limit the olfactory and sound nuisances, in particular not to honk, shout or make useless noises in the faults, by not leaving any garbage on the water and if possible to collect them.

Article 5 : I commit myself to a total discretion near the nests of osprey as soon as they are occupied in order to guarantee the peace of the present couple and in period of reproduction (March to June) to respect a necessary distance.

Article 6 : I commit myself to adopt an eco-responsible attitude in my conception of the activity, to privilege in my communication the products with sustainable development, the history, the heritage and the Corsican culture, the products of the region and the crafts.

Article 7 : I commit myself to integrate in my objectives and plans of investments a reflexion on the less polluting and respectful equipment of the environment.

Article 8 : I commit myself to respect the maritime regulations, to be in complete fiscal and social regularity, to implement my activities in the optimum conditions of safety, to respect the speed limits (5 knots in the band of 300m)

Article 9 : I commit myself to work as soon as possible in partnership with the local actors (private and/or institutional), to show respect and "fair play", to communicate all information relating to the conditions of good practice of my activity

Drafted by the UAC (facilitator of Natura 2000 sites), in collaboration with the PNRC and the State services, the Natura 2000 Charter of good practices of the sector "Calvi - Carghjese" contributes to the conservation of habitats and species of community interest on this vast territory of more than 1,270 km².

Socio-professionals, institutions, individuals ... the signatories of the Natura 2000 Charter commit themselves for a period of 5 years to become voluntary actors of the objectives pursued by the Natura 2000 network and to anchor their practices in a sustainable development approach.

The Natura 2000 Charter, ratified by the members of the Steering Committee, proposes 15 commitments: 3 of general scope and 12 divided according to the environments concerned (coastal seabed, coastal cliffs and rocky coasts and terrestrial environments). These commitments take into account the problems linked to the tourist frequentation, notably those linked to the conservation of the osprey.

With a total area of about 127,500 ha, the "Calvi - Carghjese" sector includes 4 Natura 2000 sites classified under the European directives "Habitats Fauna Flora" and "Birds".

Located along the north-western coast of Corsica, these Natura 2000 sites protect a group of rocky coasts and remarkable seabeds whose integrity is unique in Europe.

The presence of submarine canyons leads to regular visits by marine mammals, especially the bottlenose dolphin, and marine birds.

The sites are home to most of the Corsican osprey population, which itself represents 50% of the French breeding population, which gives the area a leading role in the conservation of the species. The sector is also important for the Mediterranean crested cormorant, with numbers equivalent to over 15% of the French population.

On land, the populations of the Sardinian warbler (a species endemic to Corsica) are important, as is the population of the peregrine falcon. The interest of the sites is also undeniable for the bats with regard to the great diversity of species recorded on the territory.

Concerning the flora, it presents a strong endemism with numerous protected species or of European interest. 

By signing the Natura 2000 Charter of good practices of the sector "Calvi - Carghjese", we commit ourselves to respect the following commitments:

General scope

C1 : Not to intentionally harm the habitats/species of community interest of the Natura 2000 sites and, in general, the natural heritage of the sector " Calvi - Carghjese ".

C2 : Promote the Natura 2000 charter to the users, clients and/or members I represent and inform them of the commitments I have subscribed to.

C3 : Participate in the surveys relative to the frequentation of the sector " Calvi - Carghjese ", under the condition that the transmitted data remain anonymous and are the object of a global analysis.

Coastal seabed 

C1: Anchor only on sandy bottoms so as not to harm sensitive marine habitats (Posidonia meadows, cymodocea meadows, coralligenous reefs, infralittoral rock with photophilous algae).

C2: Do not disturb marine mammals, including bottlenose dolphins, by respecting the Code of Conduct for the observation of cetaceans in the Mediterranean (Pelagos sanctuary).

C3: Be aware of the list of marine invasive alien species to be reported in Corsica and make sure not to introduce, spread or intentionally discard them.

Coastal cliffs and rocky coasts

C1: From April 1 to July 31, respect the quiet zones defined around the osprey nests in order not to disturb the reproduction of the species (prohibition of navigation at sea and traffic on land within a perimeter of about 250 meters around each nest). Inform me of annual updates of the quiet zones, as the nesting sites frequented by the osprey may change from one year to the next.

C2: Prohibit any excessive noise demonstration within 250 meters of the other osprey nests observed in the sector "Calvi - Carghjese", in order to guarantee the tranquility of the species. For owners of hybrid motorized vessels, use only electric propulsion when approaching osprey nests and the coast in general.

C3: Respect the rules of navigation at sea and in particular the limitation of the speed of the boats to 5 knots in the band of 300 meters, in order to preserve the tranquillity of the species present on the whole of the coastal facade.

C4: Do not berth and/or disembark on the Lithophyllum byssoides corbels and within the mediolittoral caves identified along the "Calvi - Carghjese" coastline, so as not to damage these sensitive coastal environments.

C5: From April 1 to July 31, do not fly below 700 meters (2,300 feet) over the quiet zones defined around Osprey nests, either from piloted or remotely controlled aircraft (microlight, paraglider, drone, etc.). Within the Scandula Nature Reserve, to respect the prohibition of overflight below 1,000 meters (3,300 feet) provided for by the specific regulations of the nature reserve and the civil aeronautical regulations. Inform me of the annual updates of the quiet zones.

Terrestrial environments

C1: Authorize access of competent services to the parcels of land committed to the charter in order to facilitate the realization of inventory operations and the evaluation of the state of conservation of habitats and/or species of community interest.

C2: Respect existing markers on frequented coastal sites and fragile natural sites.

C3: Between March 1 and June 30, do not engage in brush clearing, trimming or cutting of vegetation (with the exception of legal obligations to clear brush as stipulated by the forestry code and work related to market gardening and fruit growing) in order not to disturb the reproduction of land birds.

C4: Do not intentionally introduce or disseminate invasive exotic plant or animal species.

If you want more information, you can visit the page of the Office of the Environment of Corsica dedicated to the Natura 2000 Charter:

https://www.oec.corsica/CHARTE-NATURA-2000-DE-BONNES-PRATIQUES-DU-SECTEUR-CALVI-CARGHJESE_a3195.html

Or download the Natura 2000 Charter presentation booklet:

https://www.oec.corsica/attachment/2084810/