Nautical tourism is increasingly finding its place in the economic branches of the Republic of Croatia, primarily because the Adriatic coast has quality advantages for development. Therefore, this paper deals with the positive and negative aspects of nautical tourism, with a clear emphasis on the negative consequences it has on the sea and the marine environment. However, in addition to the various positive impacts brought by the development and progress of nautical tourism, it also brings major negative impacts on the environment, which are reflected in the construction of nautical tourism ports, the usurpation of the coast, the destruction of natural habitats of various species, the release of harmful substances into the sea, and the like. Therefore, this paper will determine certain functions by means of which nautical tourism will have less negative impact on the environment. It is important that future generations can also enjoy all the advantages that this type of tourism provides