Filenews 30 August 2022
A total of 60 amphorae were deployed on Tuesday in the marine protected area of Larnaka in Voroklini and specifically in the natural reef next to the shipwreck LEF1.
This is an ecological action that was carried out under the guidance of the Department of Fisheries and Marine Research (TATHE) and the support of the Deputy Ministry of Tourism, with the aim of attracting and increasing the fish population as well as maximizing diving interest.
In the morning, journalists and local authorities of Larnaca, including the President of the Community Council of Voroklini and the Tathe, boarded a boat that transported them to a point near the shipwreck "LEF1" where divers placed the amphorae in a way that attracted the various species of fish that exist in the area.
In his statements, Dinos Lefkaritis President of the Larnaca Tourism Development and Promotion Company (ETAP) expressed satisfaction for the fact that after three years the city's bodies, the Deputy Ministry of Tourism and the Department of Fisheries and Marine Research "are currently carrying out the laying of 60 amphorae with the aim of enriching the various types of marine life but also to help tourism in general and diving tourism, which is our main goal".
However, he continued, "all this effort must be specifically protected by the Port Police and the competent Ministries, which must take specific actions in order to stop the illegal fishing that is taking place in the marine protected area of Larnaca. Several suggestions have been made and several efforts are being made by the Ministry of Agriculture and other bodies to achieve this goal, but an effort needs to be made to change the mentality of the people so that we behave as befits a European country".
To a relevant question, he replied that "diving tourism always exists in Larnaca, but in the last two years due to the coronavirus pandemic there was less. I believe that tourism will begin to recover and with it the diving one especially in Larnaca, which gathers several thousand every year".
To another question, Mr. Lefkaritis replied that "the new Larnaka artificial reef was created on the initiative of the Larnaca Etap and the TATE and with the support of local authorities, institutions and businesses of the city, in December 2019, when the 63-meter ship Elpida and the 15-metre boat LEF1, donated by the company Lefkaritis Bros Ltd. Were laid, in addition to the 60 amphorae that were laid today, another 30 will be placed at a later stage", he said and noted and noted that "amphorae are clay and do not contain glass, colour, or any toxic materials that may adversely affect marine life."
On his part, George Pagiatas, Officer of Fisheries and Marine Research, responsible for the areas of artificial reefs, in the respective Department of the Ministry of Agriculture, described as "important any action that offers one more stone in marine protected areas and especially in Larnaca. The Fisheries Department has used ceramics, amphorae in other areas and the results have been spectacular," he said.
He added that "we hope that in 2023 the demarcation of the area will be completed and we believe that it will help to carry out satisfactory policing. We believe that all actions taken with the cooperation of all competent and local bodies are important parties in the management of the area".
In response to a relevant question, Mr. Pagiatas said that "in this area of Voroklini there is a soft substrate with sand and little by little we are trying to increase the hard substrate so that shelters are created for fish. It is estimated that the fish that we will attract to the area with the immersion of amphorae are orphoi, sorceries, skaroi and occasionally large fish that move like the mineria, creating the food chain needed to improve biodiversity and attract the interest of divers".
For his part, Giorgos Minas, President of the Larnaka Underwater Activities Group "Hippocampus", described as "very important this activity that began three years ago with the laying of the two vessels. It is important both for divers but also for the enrichment of fish and marine life and our goal is to keep the sea and the environment clean," he said.
He added that "interest in diving is constantly growing for both autonomous and free. The boats "Elpida" and "LEF1" are at a shallow depth and can be done both autonomous and freediving", he said and noted that "we believe that it will be an important place to visit".
It is noted that the specific reef where the two boats are located is about 1 kilometre from the coast and at a depth of 13 metres, which hosts various kinds of marine life and can be visited by swimmers with a mask and snorkel.
CNA
