Hundreds of demonstrators took to the waters in front of St Mark’s Square in Venice on Sunday to protest the use of motor boats in and around the lagoon city.

Forming a flotilla of small, traditional rowing boats, protestors urged authorities to take action against Venice’s crowded waterways while taking aim at the giant cruise ships that regularly sail close to the city.

Critics say waves created by cruise ships and other large, motorised boats on the canal are eroding the foundations of the city, which regularly suffers from flooding.

“Stop the waves, stop the smog,” said one banner. “Shame on those making waves,” read another in Venetian dialect. “Look out for the waves, they are drowning us,” said a third.

Beloved around the world for its canals, historic architecture and art, Venice suffered a record string of floods in November, which left much of the city underwater and threatened the famed St Mark’s Basilica.

Venice flooding in pictures: City hit by highest tide in 50 years Show all 15 1 /15 Venice flooding in pictures: City hit by highest tide in 50 years Venice flooding in pictures: City hit by highest tide in 50 years epa07992303 A view of a ferry stranded on the docks following bad weather in Venice, northern Italy, 13 November 2019. A wave of bad weather has hit much of Italy on 12 November. Levels of 100-120cm above sea level are fairly common in the lagoon city and Venice is well-equipped to cope with its rafts of pontoon walkways. EPA/ANDREA MEROLA ANDREA MEROLA EPA Venice flooding in pictures: City hit by highest tide in 50 years A man stands in the flooded St Mark's Square ANSA via AP Venice flooding in pictures: City hit by highest tide in 50 years The flooded crypt of St Mark's Basilica is pictured during an exceptionally high water levels in Venice, Italy November 13, 2019. REUTERS/Manuel Silvestri MANUEL SILVESTRI Reuters Venice flooding in pictures: City hit by highest tide in 50 years A stranded ferry boat is seen in the background as people gather to watch and clean up after a high tide, in Venice, Italy, Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2019. The high-water mark hit 187 centimeters (74 inches) late Tuesday, meaning more than 85% of the city was flooded. The highest level ever recorded was 198 centimeters (78 inches) during infamous flooding in 1966. (Andrea Merola/ANSA via AP) Andrea Merola AP Venice flooding in pictures: City hit by highest tide in 50 years A room in the flooded Gritti Palace AFP via Getty Venice flooding in pictures: City hit by highest tide in 50 years People and tourists carry their luggage through a flooded street after an exceptional overnight "Alta Acqua" high tide water level, early on November 13, 2019 in Venice. - Powerful rainstorms hit Italy on November 12, with the worst affected areas in the south and Venice, where there was widespread flooding. Within a cyclone that threatens the country, exceptional high water were rising in Venice, with the sirocco winds blowing northwards from the Adriatic sea against the lagoons outlets and preventing the water from flowing back into the sea. At 22:40pm the tide reached 183 cm, the second measure in history after the 198 cm of the 1966 flood. (Photo by Marco Bertorello / AFP) (Photo by MARCO BERTORELLO/AFP via Getty Images) MARCO BERTORELLO AFP via Getty Venice flooding in pictures: City hit by highest tide in 50 years A man takes photos from the flooded St. Mark's Square after an exceptional overnight "Alta Acqua" high tide water level, early on November 13, 2019 in Venice. - Powerful rainstorms hit Italy on November 12, with the worst affected areas in the south and Venice, where there was widespread flooding. Within a cyclone that threatens the country, exceptional high water were rising in Venice, with the sirocco winds blowing northwards from the Adriatic sea against the lagoons outlets and preventing the water from flowing back into the sea. At 22:40pm the tide reached 183 cm, the second measure in history after the 198 cm of the 1966 flood. (Photo by Marco Bertorello / AFP) (Photo by MARCO BERTORELLO/AFP via Getty Images) MARCO BERTORELLO AFP via Getty Venice flooding in pictures: City hit by highest tide in 50 years A flooded shop during a night of exceptional high water Reuters Venice flooding in pictures: City hit by highest tide in 50 years People walk across the flooded St Mark's Square past St Mark's Basilica AFP via Getty Venice flooding in pictures: City hit by highest tide in 50 years People use a makeshift footbridge to exit a flooded hotel AFP via Getty Venice flooding in pictures: City hit by highest tide in 50 years A stranded ferry boat is seen by the docks in Venice ANSA via AP Venice flooding in pictures: City hit by highest tide in 50 years A man walks across the flooded St Mark's Square past St Mark's Basilica and the Bell Tower AFP via Getty Venice flooding in pictures: City hit by highest tide in 50 years A shop owner clears his flooded premises AFP via Getty Venice flooding in pictures: City hit by highest tide in 50 years The flooded Riva degli Schiavoni embankment with the San Giorgio Maggiore basilica in background AFP via Getty Venice flooding in pictures: City hit by highest tide in 50 years A water taxi transported by the water into a street Reuters

The high tides were blamed on climate change, but protesters say local authorities could be doing much more to protect the fragile city by banning big boats.

Last year, the Italian minister for transport, Danilo Toninelli, announced ships would be rerouted away from the centre of Venice to ports such as the outlying Fusina and Lombardia terminals. Both these terminals are still within the Venetian lagoon.

In the wake of the November floods, thousands came out in force to vent their anger at the city’s officials and demand the resignation of Venice mayor Luigi Brugnaro.

Rowing and sailing boats sail along the St Mark’s basin as Venetians protest against the damage caused by waves created by large motorboats (AP)

Calls were also made to scrap Mose, a multi-billion euro flood barrier project designed to protect Venice against “acqua alta” (high water) events, that has been persistently delayed and dogged by overspending and corruption scandals since it began in 2003.