Filenews 15 March 2025 - by Natasha Christoforou
Five years after the first two boats were set in the Marine Protected Area (MPA) of Larnaka, the first significant results of the effort to increase life in the poor seabed of Oroklini began to appear, which began to regenerate. The dumping of Lambousa II last February by the Department of Fisheries came to reinforce this effort, while increasing diving interest.
The area where the three boats are located, in which amphorae were sunk at the initiative of the Larnaka Tourism Development and Promotion Company, has now been demarcated covering an area of 2.2 square kilometers. The comparative advantage of the area, compared to the other five artificial reefs created, is that there is the largest boat (ELPIDA) that sank, while the second boat (LEF 1) is the only one that is suitable for freediving.
The protected area began to be created in December 2019, when first ELPIDA sank and then LEF 1. The first is located at a depth of 29 meters, has a length of 63 and a width of 10 meters and was built in Germany in 1965. It was used as a cargo ship in Greece, until its last voyage to Cyprus, where it was used as an artificial reef wreck. LEF1, which is submerged at 14 meters, 15.5 meters long and 4 meters wide, was built in 1955 and is a donation of Lefkaritis Brothers Ltd. It is the only artificial reef in Cyprus that is suitable for surface divers (snorkellers).
Between the two wrecks, the Lambousa II, which is 23 meters long and 4 meters wide, sank recently, at a depth of 20 meters. It is a trawler built in Romania in 1995 and registered in the Cyprus Register of Vessels. Several years ago it was converted into a tugboat and last year it was donated to the Department of Fisheries by Brasal Marine Services.
Speaking to "F", the officer of the Department of Fisheries, George Pagiatas, responsible for the protected areas in which artificial reefs are placed, explained why this particular area was chosen. "The area has limited natural reefs and seagrass meadows, is mostly covered by sand and therefore the marine life it hosts is relatively poor. The enhancement of MPA with artificial reefs is gradual and contributes to the creation of more areas for growth, nutrition and protection for marine organisms and to an increase in fish stocks."
Marine organisms, Mr. Payatas noted, use the energy found in the sea and through a complex mechanism that starts from simple microorganisms (such as phytoplankton and zooplankton) and ends in large predatory fish and marine mammals, they create the food chain or so-called food webs. "The different types of artificial reefs that are laid create reliefs, which over time are assimilated by the marine environment. These are gradually transforming into colonies that host hundreds of organisms, thus enriching aquatic fauna and flora and enhancing marine life."
Because productivity in the Eastern Mediterranean is particularly low, colonization and development with marine organisms is a slow process, taking years to yield results. "It is estimated that a period of around five years is needed so that the interconnectivity of the artificial reefs installed so far with the three vessels that have been deployed, combined with the protection measures of the area (complete closure of fishing, installation of information signs along the coast, signage with floats and policing to the extent possible) can lead to visible and tangible results. This seems to be achieved, since in the last year it has become more and more frequent to present more species and in greater numbers."
Enrichment with new artificial reef constructions
The enrichment plan of the area will be continued by the Department of Fisheries and Marine Research, according to Mr. Pagiatas, with the construction of new artificial reefs. "The planned constructions, combined with the vessels that have been deployed and the natural reefs in the area, are expected to significantly enhance the area's capacity to increase marine biodiversity."
The second big gain from the creation of artificial reefs in the Marine Protected Area in Oroklini is the increase of diving interest. Until recently, divers' interest was focused on the famous Zenobia shipwreck, which, however, has a high degree of difficulty. "Artificial reefs create opportunities for activities compatible with the protection of the marine environment, such as snorkelling and flippers, scuba diving and the promotion of scientific research, while also being ideal areas for environmental awareness and education.
Although diving activity is not the responsibility of the Department of Fisheries and Marine Research, we know that divers are gradually showing interest in MPA in Oroklini. From our contacts, communication and occasionally our cooperation with diving schools, associations and the Larnaka Diving Board, we know that diving interest in the area was almost non-existent and increased significantly with the establishment of the area as a protected area and the laying of the three boats", underlined Mr. Pagiatas.
Headache or illegal fishing
The biggest challenge that exists for the enrichment of the area and the increase of diving interest is illegal fishing by skilful people and the inability to fully deal with it. The phenomenon, as highlighted in another report by our newspaper, has been exacerbated in recent years, since, due to the lack of fish in the rest areas of Larnaka, amateur fishermen target diving points.
Due to this, ETAP had proposed that the Search and Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC), which has an advanced coastal observation system in Larnaka, should also contribute to the work of the Port Police. He also called for the Department of Fisheries and Marine Research to be allowed to use surveillance cameras in protected areas, in which the state has invested very large sums.
Clarifying that fishing is prohibited in the entire protected area, both from the coast and from the sea, Mr. Pagiatas noted that the staff of the Department in charge of patrolling and supervising the area is doing everything possible to deal with the phenomenon, which, as he admitted, "unfortunately exists to some extent".
