Additional measures to strengthen inspections and more effectively address incidents of marine pollution were agreed upon on Thursday, during a broad-based meeting in Limassol, chaired by Deputy Minister of Shipping Marina Hatzimanoli, who assured attendees that Cyprus’s waters are clean. She also stated that plans to establish a Coast Guard are moving forward. The mayors cited incidents of pollution and called on the government to assume its responsibilities and clearly define the respective jurisdictions.
The meeting was attended by Limassol Mayor Yiannis Armeftis and Amathus Mayor Kyriakos Xydias, as well as representatives from the Department of the Environment, the District Local Government Organization, the Department of Fisheries and Marine Research, and the Cyprus Ports Authority.
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The meeting was convened in response to recent public complaints and reports regarding foam, unpleasant odors, and the presence of unknown substances or waste along the Limassol waterfront.
In remarks following the meeting, Ms. Hatzimanoli stated that Cyprus’s waters are clean, adding, however, that there is room for improvement and that inspections will be stepped up.
As noted during the meeting, incidents of marine pollution were recorded this season and were addressed, and it was agreed to promote additional measures for better monitoring and a faster response to such incidents.
Dr. Angelos Menelaou, an academic and advisor to the Deputy Ministry of Shipping on these issues, presented the actions being promoted. Among other things, he mentioned strengthening inspections, utilizing technological tools—including drones—and equipping inspection vessels with additional equipment.
The goal, as stated, is to ensure greater operational readiness and more effective coordination among the relevant agencies by the next summer season.
Ms. Hatzimanoli noted that complaints and reports from citizens will be evaluated and investigated, while also pointing out the need for them to be accompanied by specific details, so that the source of each incident can be more easily identified.
He also referred to the Cabinet’s decision to establish a Coast Guard, which, he said, will contribute to more effective control of maritime areas.
For his part, Limassol Mayor Yiannis Armeftis described the issue of marine pollution as very serious, noting that the people of Limassol are angry about the situation.
“We demand solutions. Not tomorrow, but yesterday,” he said, adding that, despite the fact that addressing the problem does not fall within the municipality’s jurisdiction, the local authority considers it its duty to exert the necessary pressure.
“For citizens, after all, what matters is not which agency has jurisdiction, but how the problem is resolved,” he said.
Mr. Armeftis called for centralized coordination and the creation of an operational mechanism with a clear division of responsibilities so that, as he noted, it would be clear who coordinates, who oversees, who enforces the law, and who intervenes.
He also reiterated the Limassol Municipality’s proposal to create a Rapid Response Team for Marine Pollution, coordinated by the relevant government agency.
“There is no longer any room for further delays. The problem is well known, and citizens are justifiably protesting. Decisions and solutions are needed now,” he said.
For his part, Amathus Mayor Kyriakos Xydias underscored the importance of protecting Limassol Bay, stressing that the state, as the responsible authority, has a duty to safeguard the region’s marine resources.
As he said, in his personal opinion, Limassol Bay is a key factor in the city’s significant contribution to the local economy. “The state, as the responsible authority, must safeguard this wealth. At the very least, we must protect what it provides us,” he said.
Mr. Xydias warned that “the more the Limassol Bay is burdened, the greater the risks of pollution will become,” emphasizing the need for actions to be based on scientific evidence.
“Only if we proceed based on scientific evidence, and everyone takes responsibility and is held accountable, will we make headway,” he said.
During the meeting, there were also moments of tension, mainly regarding the issue of jurisdiction, with the mayors calling on the government to take on the central role and responsibility for addressing marine pollution.
Source: CNA
