Diversity of property regimes of Mediterranean coastal lagoons in S. France; implications for coastal zone management

Abstract We provide a cartography of the current property regimes permanent coastal lagoons along coastlines Mediterranean Sea for continental France and Corsica, which include both private public properties. In France, latter, State Domain Code General persons make clear difference between Public different entities. domain represents that is imprescriptible inalienable, i.e. rights cannot be changed in future neither transferred nor sold to somebody else. contrast, properties entities can or thirds. Maritime (DPM) was created since 1681. DPM has accommodated French following their legal definition as “salty ponds (French etangs sales) with direct, natural connection sea”. However, landlords battled juridically centuries by attacking pertinence this claiming ancestral rights. As result, before 1980, more than half comprised properties, representing about quarter lagoon surface. Twelve 40 comprise DPM, mainly larger (e.g., Salses-Leucate, many close Narbonne, Thau lagoon, Berre lagoon), 65% total Since its foundation 1975, Conservatoire du Littoral, body charge nature protection, bought twenty lagoons, 22% These have been designated inalienable “Public Conservatoire”, safeguarded conservation purposes. Nowadays, ownership still persists 13 3.3% The Coastal Roussillon (Etangs Canet Salses-Leucate), Herault department, Camargue Corsica currently show variable sometimes fragmented (in addition Conservatoire, ownership, municipalities, departments). Fragmented difficulty integrated management lagoons. With currently, 87% Domain, law environmental code evolve tackle challenges connectivity other ecosystems on land sea.