Faced with pressure from hunting groups, the Game and Fauna Service decided to revise its previous decision and issue a revised decree to allow the exercise and training of hunting dogs from early March to mid-July, i.e. throughout the nesting and breeding period of birds and game, even within protected areas of the Natura 2000 Network.
It is noted that, based on the decree that came into force last January, hunting dogs were not allowed to exercise and train during the months of March, April, May and June in any area, let alone in protected areas of the Natura 2000 Network.
However, on 7/3/2025, two decrees were published in the Official Gazette of the Republic allowing persons who have a valid hunting license and have paid the dog exercise fee (€20), to practice up to four hunting dogs in the areas and periods specified, from sunrise to sunset.
As stated in the two decrees, the training and exercise of hunting dogs is allowed from 7/3/2025 until 14/7/2025 in a total of 33 areas across Cyprus, of which six in the Nicosia district, five in the Limassol district, four in the Larnaka district, nine in the Paphos district and nine in the Famagusta district.
Out of a total of 33 hunting dog training and exercise areas across Cyprus, 13 fall within the Natura 2000 Network and affect 16 protected areas of the Natura 2000 Network, which have been designated either as Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) for the protection of natural habitats, as well as wild flora and fauna, or as Special Protection Areas (SPAs) for the conservation of wild birds.
Organized groups and environmental organizations express strong concerns and serious objections for a serious violation of the provisions of Cypriot and European legislation for the protection of wild birds, due to the permitted exercise and training of hunting dogs within Natura 2000 Network areas, during the breeding season of birds.
The main concern concerns areas designated as SPAs and SACs, where the exercise and training of hunting dogs can significantly and negatively affect protected bird species and their natural habitats. In particular, these areas are important for the conservation of avifauna and the period of exercise and training of dogs (March-July) coincides with the nesting and breeding season of birds.
It is emphasized that the decrees that allow the exercise and training of hunting dogs have not been subjected to a Special Ecological Assessment, i.e. an appropriate assessment of the impact of this activity on the conservation objectives of the protected areas of the Natura 2000 Network. Therefore, there appears to be a serious violation of the EU environmental acquis and the harmonizing legislation of the Republic of Cyprus, which concerns both Directive 2009/147/EC on the conservation of wild birds and Directive 92/43/EEC on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild flora and fauna.
Particularly important is the example of the permitted area of exercise and training of hunting dogs on the strictly protected beach of Toxeftra, which falls within the Akamas Peninsula SAC and the Akamas Peninsula SPA, while, at the same time, it falls within the Lara-Toxeftra Marine Protected Area (MPA). It should be noted that the Lara-Toxeftra MPA is the main nesting area of the priority species of the sea turtles Chelonia mydas and Caretta caretta on the territory of the Republic of Cyprus, while, at the same time, it is the only area in the whole of Cyprus that has been declared as a Specially Protected Area of Mediterranean Importance, under the Mediterranean Action Plan of the United Nations Environment Programme. as well as a Biogenetic Reserve, under the Bern Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats.
It is also emphasized that the nesting and breeding period of priority species of sea turtles lasts from May 1st to October 31st of each year, while the allowed period of exercise and training of hunting dogs is determined from 7/3/2025 until 14/7/2025. The exercise and training of hunting dogs constitutes a clear violation of both the Fisheries Regulations of 1990 and the Protection and Management of Nature and Wildlife Law of 2003.
It is noted that the European Commission has sent to the competent authorities of the Republic of Cyprus a Letter of Formal Notice on 27/11/2019 and a Reasoned Opinion on 13/3/2024. Therefore, the current infringement procedure can now be referred to the Court of Justice of the European Union if Cyprus is found to have failed to comply with EU provisions on nature conservation and biodiversity protection.
