Cypriot professional fishermen are calling on the relevant authorities to develop and implement a national strategy to safeguard the future of small-scale fishing in Cyprus, setting as key objectives the restoration of fish stocks, priority access to marine resources for low-impact fishing, and the creation of sustainable economic prospects for coastal fishing communities.
The issue was raised at a meeting with European Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans Kostas Kadis, which was attended by representatives of Cypriot small-scale fishermen, the Pan-Cyprian Association of Professional Coastal Fishermen, the Enalia Fysis Environmental Research Center, AP Marine, and Oceana.
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
According to a joint press release, the participants called on Cyprus to move forward with the development and implementation of a National Action Plan for Small-Scale Fisheries, as well as the effective implementation of the EU’s Common Fisheries Policy (CFP).
Fishermen and organizations have set five key priorities. Among these are preferential access for small-scale and low-impact fishermen to coastal areas, traditional fishing grounds and fisheries resources, as well as the implementation of the CFP’s objectives for the recovery and sustainable management of fish stocks.
They also call for strengthened monitoring and control of both commercial and recreational fishing, including efforts to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing.
Priorities also include improving market access for fish catches and access to financing, thereby creating the conditions for a stable income and attracting new professionals to the sector.
At the same time, there is a call for meaningful participation by fishermen in decision-making processes that affect the profession and coastal communities, as well as the official adoption and implementation of the National Action Plan for Small-Scale Fisheries.
The meeting also discussed how existing and future EU policy and funding instruments can contribute to the implementation of the national strategy and its alignment with broaderEuropean objectives.
Christodoulos Charalambous, President of the Pan-Cyprian Association of Professional Coastal Fishermen, stated that “small-scale fishermen experience these pressures daily at sea, but Cyprus still lacks a coherent, long-term plan for the future of our sector.”
“We are calling for the official adoption and implementation of a ten-year National Action Plan, which has been developed jointly with fishermen and scientists,” he added.
As he explained, the proposed plan includes a clear vision and priorities, specific actions, roles and responsibilities, an indicative budget, and a timeline.
“Fishermen are ready to contribute their knowledge and experience and to cooperate constructively with the relevant authorities to find solutions that will ensure the future of our profession and of thefishing communities,” he noted.
For his part, Oceana’s Director of the Sustainable Fisheries Campaign in Europe, Javier López, stated that the experience of Cypriot small-scale fishermen demonstrates “the urgent need for the effective implementation and enforcement of the CFP in order to achieve tangible results.”
He added that “a participatory National Strategy and Action Plan can help translate these commitments into coordinated action in Cyprus and ensure a sustainable future for the sector.”
Mr. López also noted that the upcoming European Ocean Act presents an opportunity to strengthen maritime governance in the EU and support small-scale, low-impact fisheries impact, including through preferential access to coastal waters and the protection of these areas from destructive fishing practices.
As noted in the press release, the small-scale fishing sector in Cyprus faces a series of interrelated pressures, including declining fish stocks, invasive species and the impacts of climate change, increasing competition for marine space and fishery resources, as well as challenges in monitoring and controlling recreational and illegal fishing.
Added to these challenges are rising operating costs, unstable incomes, difficulties in accessing financing, and limited participation of professionals in decision-making. At the same time, the aging workforce and the difficulty in attracting new professional fishermen are highlighted.
According to the stakeholders, the proposed strategy and Action Plan aim to create a unified national framework that will combine environmental and economic sustainability, fair access to marine areas and fishery resources, the effective enforcement of legislation, and the participation of fishermen in decision-making.
This request follows the European Commission’s recent evaluation of the Common Fisheries Policy, which, according to the announcement, showed that, although the CFP provides the appropriate framework, its uneven implementation across Member States has slowed progress in restoring fish stocks and has contributed to the economic pressures facing the fishing sector.
The proposed plan is based on the Joint Call for Action on the Future of Small-Scale Fisheries in Cyprus, which was prepared by the Pan-Cyprian Association of Professional Coastal Fishermen and the Enalia Physis Research Center, in collaboration with partner organizations.
