Filenews 2 August 2022 - by Natasha Christoforou
The number one enemy of the ever-growing and promising diving tourism of Larnaka, is the impossibility of combating illegal fishing by sophisticates, who choose to fish illegally, even using gunpowder, on the protected reefs. The phenomenon has become more acute, due to the lack of fish in the rest of Larnaka, with the action of illegals, endangering even the famous shipwreck Zenobia, which is the richest reef in marine life in Cyprus and is every year a pole of attraction for about 60,000 divers from abroad.
It is noted that diving schools have reported that they have located twice in the last year, near the shipwreck of Elpida, which is part of an artificial reef created in Larnaca, gunpowder that was placed in order to be detonated.
The phenomenon has caused great concern to the Larnaca Promotion and Tourism Development Company, which has invested a lot in attracting diving tourism. For the last two years, through demarches and letters to the competent Ministries and Departments, the ETAP, through its president, Dinos Lefkaritis, informed about the consequences of illegal fishing, which puts a barrier to the development of marine life on the reefs, proposing a series of measures in order to address the phenomenon.
According to information from ETAP, it was proposed that the Search and Rescue Coordination Centre (KSED), which has an advanced coastal observation system in Larnaca, should also contribute to the work of the Port Police. It was also requested that the Department of Fisheries and Marine Research be allowed to use surveillance cameras for protected areas, where the state has invested large sums in the creation of protected areas.
The only answer given to ETAP was in June last year when the then Minister of Justice, Emily Yiolitis, in a letter informed that the Port Police is making every effort to deal with illegal fishing. Regarding the request for the involvement of the KSED, its Commander was informed about the matter, according to Ms. Yiolitis and a decision was expected to be taken. Regarding the installation of underwater cameras in protected areas, the then Minister of Justice, said that a relevant legislative regulation is required in the fisheries law, which falls under the competence of the Ministry of Agriculture.
Amphorae are set on the Larnaka artificial reef
Meanwhile, around mid-August, the Larnaca ETAP, with the contribution of the Department of Fisheries and Marine Research, the Deputy Ministry of Tourism and the Association of Diving Centres of Cyprus, will place amphorae on the artificial reef of Larnaca, which was created in the area between Oroklini and Pyla. These are amphorae of special standards, which do not burden the marine environment and their placing aims at the development of marine life and the increase of diving interest.
The artificial reef was created in December 2019 with the laying of the merchant ship "Elpida" and the vessel "LEF1". The amphorae are expected to be placed, near the vessel "LEF1".
