Mandatory boat sanitation on Lake Garda: the project becomes operational

14 April 2026

Following approval by the Regional Council of Bill No. 63—previously reported at the end of February and covered by gardanotizie—and after the recent green light from the Transport Commission of the Lombardy Regional Council, the measure will now go before the assembly for final approval, marking a significant shift in the management of navigation on Lake Garda.
 

The new regulation will introduce mandatory sanitation for boats coming from other water bodies, with specific inspections and certifications confirming that the treatment has been carried out. The goal is to prevent the spread of invasive alien species, considered a serious threat to the lake’s ecological balance—a phenomenon that has not been new in recent years.
 

The measure also предусматриes the identification of equipped stations for cleaning boats and a tracking system for interventions, in order to make inspections more effective. Alongside technical aspects, importance is also given to raising awareness among boaters and industry operators, who are called upon to actively contribute to environmental protection.
 

This is a long-awaited intervention in the area, where attention to safeguarding Lake Garda—one of the country’s most delicate and strategic ecosystems—is steadily growing. With the transition to the operational phase, the regulation now aims to become a concrete prevention tool, capable of combining the lake’s tourist use with the protection of its biodiversity.