Filenews 9 June 2025
Tourism and environmental bodies and stakeholders of Paphos denounce illegal fishing phenomena within the protected area of the marine park in Bania in Kato Paphos.
These bodies have been claiming with their representations in recent days to the competent state departments that they are receiving complaints that amateur fishermen, taking advantage of the absence of bathers or the lack of supervision at various times, fish undisturbed with a rod and line within the protected area. Particular cases of illegality have been reported even after sunset where the offenders take advantage of the absence of lifeguards and bathers.
In addition, they denounce, professional or amateur fishermen with boats, cast their nets very close to the buoys and fish almost at the limits of the area for bathers with the risk of serious maritime accidents, while overfishing in the area continues unhindered.
The protesting actors emphasize that lifeguards should also inform the fishermen about the ban that exists, as well as the Port Authority about the possible presence of fishermen. At the same time, they conclude, the Department of Fisheries and Marine Research should activate its service and other supervisory authorities in order to combat illegality and improve the conditions prevailing in the region.
