Sustainable Holidays in Greece: Seafarer’s Fight to Save Seagrass
Sustainability · Greece
Greece’s clear, turquoise water hides one of the Mediterranean’s most important habitats: seagrass meadows. As sailing holidays grow more popular, careless anchoring puts them at risk. The good news is that every sailor can help, one anchor drop at a time.
This guide explains why seagrass meadows matter, how anchoring damages them, the three simple steps to anchor safely, and how Seafarer works with Sustainable Sailing Greece to inspire responsible sailing.
In short
Sustainable sailing in Greece starts with how you anchor. Posidonia oceanica seagrass meadows shelter marine life, stabilise the seabed, and store large amounts of carbon, but anchors dragged across them leave lasting scars. To protect them, drop your anchor on sand patches, use mooring buoys where you can, and check for seagrass before you anchor. Seafarer partners with Sustainable Sailing Greece to help sailors do exactly that.
3
simple steps to anchor safely
Thousands
of sailors received our Safe Anchoring video
2024
Seafarer featured in SSG’s Company Spotlight
1995
running sailing holidays since
On this page
A hidden hero
Why seagrass meadows matter
Beneath Greece’s crystal-clear water lie lush, green underwater meadows of Posidonia oceanica, a seagrass found only in the Mediterranean. These meadows play a vital role in keeping the sea healthy.
Home for marine life
Fish, octopus, and countless smaller creatures shelter, feed, and breed among the leaves.
A stable seabed
Roots bind the sand together, protecting beaches and the seabed from erosion.
A natural carbon store
Seagrass meadows capture and store carbon in the seabed, often faster than land forests.
Clear water
The meadows trap sediment, helping to keep Greece’s famous water so clear.
Seagrass grows very slowly, so damage lasts for years. But it isn’t irreversible: by sailing with care, we can protect these meadows for the future.
Anchor with care
How anchoring damages seagrass, and how to anchor safely
When an anchor and chain drag across the seabed, they rip up seagrass and leave barren “anchor scars” behind. Each scar removes shelter for marine life and weakens the seabed. You can help by following three simple steps.
Look for sand
Drop your anchor on sand patches and avoid the green “carpet” of seagrass.
Use mooring buoys
Pick up a designated mooring buoy whenever one is available.
Check before you drop
Seagrass looks like a dark green underwater lawn from the surface. Check below the boat before you let the anchor go.
For more anchoring advice, read our Managing Director’s practical yacht charter tips.
Mooring buoys
More mooring buoys for Greece
Greece currently has a limited supply of mooring buoys, which means more boats need to anchor. Groups such as WWF Greece and iSea are campaigning for more buoys in key areas, giving sailors safer, more eco-friendly places to stop.
Seafarer supports these initiatives. The more buoys there are, the easier it becomes for sailors to avoid anchoring on seagrass beds.
Working together
Seafarer and Sustainable Sailing Greece
In December 2024, Sustainable Sailing Greece (SSG) featured Seafarer in its monthly Company Spotlight, recognising our commitment to eco-friendly sailing.
Together, we created a “Safe Anchoring” video. Seafarer provided a yacht and RYA instructor Trystan for filming, and we shared the video with thousands of sailors through our mailing list. It shows how to spot seagrass from above, anchor in sand patches, and use mooring buoys.
How to sail sustainably while chartering a yacht, made with Sustainable Sailing Greece (3:12)
You can also read SSG’s guide to anchoring to protect seagrass.
Seafarer recognises the need to start making sailing in Greece more sustainable, so we welcomed Sustainable Sailing Greece’s (SSG) efforts to support charter companies with material for their guests. Our clients suggested videos would be helpful for sailors to understand how to implement good practices like safe anchoring, so we were delighted to support SSG to produce them.
Sail with purpose
Sail with purpose
Picture yourself sailing across calm, turquoise water, knowing that every choice you make helps protect Greece’s natural beauty. With a little care, every sailor can make a difference.
Find out more about how Seafarer sails sustainably, or read why sailing is a greener choice of holiday.
Common questions
Sustainable sailing in Greece: your questions answered
What is Posidonia seagrass, and why is it important?
Posidonia oceanica is a seagrass found only in the Mediterranean. Its meadows shelter marine life, protect the seabed from erosion, keep the water clear, and store carbon.
How does anchoring affect seagrass meadows in Greece?
An anchor and chain dragging across the seabed uproot seagrass and leave “anchor scars”. Seagrass grows very slowly, so the damage lasts for years.
How can I anchor safely during a sailing holiday in Greece?
Anchor on sand patches, avoid the green “carpet” of seagrass, use designated mooring buoys, and check below the boat before you drop the anchor.
What is Seafarer doing to support sustainable sailing in Greece?
We partnered with Sustainable Sailing Greece to create a Safe Anchoring video and shared it with thousands of sailors. We also support WWF Greece and iSea’s calls for more mooring buoys.
How can I book a sustainable sailing holiday in Greece?
Choose one of our flotillas or yacht charters in Greece, and our team will happily share our safe anchoring advice before you sail.
Sail with purpose
Plan your Greek sailing holiday
Tell us when you’d like to sail and who’s coming, and we’ll help you find the right flotilla or yacht charter in Greece.
Call or email us
Monday to Friday 09:00 to 19:00 · Saturday 09:30 to 17:00
Book with confidence. Seafarer has run sailing holidays since 1995, and every payment you make to us is financially protected: ATOL licence 9511 for holidays with flights, ABTOT member 5660 for holidays without.