Filenews 14 December 2020 - by Dora Christodoulou
The Society of Tourism Development and Promotion of paphos region denounces illegal fishing phenomena within the protected area of the marine park in the Municipal Baths in Kato Paphos.
According to its announcement, the EFF received several complaints that amateur fishermen, taking advantage of the absence of bathers and lack of supervision, fish undisturbed with reeds and fishing line within the protected area. Particular cases of illegality have also been reported after sunset where the illegals take advantage of the absence of lifeguards, it is stressed.
"In other cases in the morning hours and even before the lifeguards get to work", complains the tourist operator of Paphos, "specific people who use the bathing area as swimmers several times fish octopuses. The information tells us that these people usually use the access located on the east side of the park, which is less popular to prevent them from being noticed.
In addition, professional or even amateur fishermen with boats, throw their networks very close to the buoys and fish almost to the limits of the area of bathers at risk of serious marine accidents while the overfishing in the area continues uninterrupted".
The EFF has written to the Department of Fisheries and Marine Research and calls on it to activate its service as well as other supervisory authorities with the aim of combating illegality and improving conditions in the region, the communication concludes.
