France officially launched its 2025-2030 national roadmap for nautical and recreational boating at the Grand Pavois in La Rochelle on 25 September 2025. The strategy, signed earlier on 8 September by Yves Lyon-Caen, President of the Confédération du nautisme et de la plaisance (CNP), and the Ministry for Ecological Transition, Biodiversity, Forests, the Sea and Fisheries, marks the first time a unified national framework has been established for the sector.
The strategy is the result of broad consultation, involving nearly 100 public and private stakeholders. 11 working groups co-led by the Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs, Fisheries and Aquaculture (DGAMPA) and representatives from the recreational boating industry contributed to the roadmap. According to the government, the plan provides a common direction for future development that balances sector growth with environmental and regulatory concerns.
The roadmap defines four key objectives to be met by 2030: strengthen France’s global position in the boating sector across design, construction and maintenance; accelerate the ecological transition by promoting decarbonisation and life-cycle analysis of vessels; increase participation among both regular and occasional recreational users; and simplify regulations while improving services for users.
Among the 37 proposed actions, 13 have been identified as priority measures by both the state and industry stakeholders. These include the expansion of the “Clean Marina” certification programme, which encourages environmentally responsible practices in port operations, and broader adoption of life-cycle assessments across vessel production and maintenance.
These actions fall within three broader focus areas: environmental transition, sector attractiveness and safety, and the development of recreational boating across French territories.
France’s nautical sector includes around 6,000 companies, with a combined annual turnover of €6.3 billion (over $7 billion USD) and approximately 49,000 direct jobs. When including indirect employment, the sector supports nearly 150,000 positions. Each year, French manufacturers produce around 3,500 sailboats and 10,000 motorboats, with over 80% of production destined for export. The roadmap notes the importance of the sector for the national economy, particularly in coastal areas.
The CNP, as co-signatory of the roadmap, represents the interests of sports federations, marina operators, marine industries and recreational boating users. As a coordinating body, the CNP works to promote shared policies and dialogue within the sector.
