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ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR 2007
DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES AND MARINE RESEARCH
1. Introduction
The Department of Fisheries and Marine Research has developed activities in
multidisciplinary fields concerning the sustainable use of marine resources, the
development and sound management of fisheries and aquaculture, marine ecology,
the protection of endangered species and habitats, physical and chemical
oceanography and the prevention and combat of marine pollution. Furthermore,
within the framework of the fisheries development, the Department promotes
supporting programmes for the fishermen including, inter alia, the construction of
fishing shelters. It is also responsible for the enforcement of the relative legislation.
2. Fisheries and aquaculture production
The total contribution of the sector, which includes capture fisheries,
aquaculture and processing is valued at £38,7 million. The capture fisheries and
aquaculture production reached 5476 tons.
3. Legislation
The intensive effort to implement the National and Community legislation
continued in 2007 in order to ensure compliance with the Common Fisheries Policy
of the EU and to accomplish the best possible management of the resources.
Amendments of National legislation during 2007 deal with a) the creation of a new
category of Fishermen, Category C (part time fishermen, b) recreational fisheries in
inland waters and c) the designation of DFMR as the national authority for
implementing all Community Regulations and Decisions of 2006 dealing with
fisheries.
On Community level, during 2007 the major legislative acts that have been
established are a) the Regulation concerning the implementation of a multiannual
recovery plan for bluefin tuna, b) the Regulation dealing with the use of alien species
in aquaculture and c) the implementing Regulation of the European Fisheries Fund,
which deals with Community funding for the period 2007 -2013.
An important
consultation on an EU level was launched during 2007 that deals with the reform of
the EU strategy for Aquaculture since the sustainable development of the
aquaculture sector will be a priority of the CFP during 2008.
4.
Single Programming Document for Fisheries 2004-2006
In 2007, the implementation of the projects within the framework of the Single
Programming Document for Fisheries 2004 – 2006 continued.
4.1
Scheme for the Scrapping of Fishing Vessels
The project began in December 2004 and ended in September 2006. Within the
project two bottom trawlers fishing in the territorial waters of Cyprus and five
multipurpose/ polyvalent fishing vessels were scrapped.
4.2
Scheme for the Use of Fishing Vessels as Exhibits of National Heritage
The project began in December 2004 and ended in December 2005.Two wooden
bottom trawlers were given to Limassol and Polis Chrysochous municipalities to be
utilized as exhibits of national heritage.
4.3
Scheme for the Modernization of Existing Fishing Vessels
The project refers to the co-funding of actions that improve the safety on board as
well as actions that aim towards the improvement of the quality and hygiene of
fisheries products. The call for proposals began in July 2005 and ended in June
2006. The project co financed 102 proposals from fishermen, 59 in 2006 and 43 in
2007.
4.4
Scheme for the Modernization and Development of Aquaculture
The project refers to the co-funding of actions that are relevant to the expansion of
the existing aquaculture units as well as the possible establishment of new ones and
the modernization of facilities and equipment of the existing aquaculture units without
any increase of the production. Within the first call for proposals six proposals have
been approved for co-funding and within the second call for proposals six proposals
have been approved for co-funding.
4.5
Scheme for the Processing and Marketing of Fisheries and Aquaculture
Products
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The project refers to the co-funding of actions that are relevant to the expansion of
existing processing and marketing units or the establishment of new ones and the
modernization of existing processing and marketing units without any increase in
production. Within the first call for proposals seven proposals have been approved
for co-funding and within the second call for proposals nine proposals have been
approved for co-funding.
4.6
Improvement of Fishing Shelters
The project refers to the co-funding of actions that are relevant to the improvement of
fishing shelters, in Larnaca, Xylofagou, Ormidia, Paralimni and Agios Georgios
Peyeias. The project began at the end of 2006 and it will end in 2008.
5.
European Fisheries Fund (EFF) 2007-2013
The European Fisheries Fund (EFF) defines the framework for Community support
for the sustainable development of the fisheries sector, fisheries areas and inland
fishing. Cyprus has prepared the operational programme for fisheries in order to
implement the policies and priorities for the fisheries sector for the programming
period 2007-2013. The OP has been approved by the European Community on the
19th December 2007.
Priority axis 1: Measures for the adaptation of the Community fishing fleet
Support from Axis 1 targeting towards the adaptation of the Community fishing fleet
will concern public aid for owners of fishing vessels and fishers for permanent or
temporary cessation of their fishing activities, investments on board fishing vessels
and gear-selectivity, public aid for small-scale coastal fishing and financing of socioeconomic measures proposed by Member States for fishers affected by
developments in the fisheries catching sector.
Priority axis 2: Aquaculture, Inland Fishing, Processing and Marketing of
fishery and aquaculture products
Support from Axis 2 that targets aquaculture production may be granted for
productive investments in aquaculture, for aqua-environmental measures such as
organic aquaculture as well as investments regarding processing and marketing of
fisheries and aquaculture products.
Priority axis 3: Measures of common interest
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Axis 3 supports measures of common interest refers to collective actions, protection
and development of aquatic fauna and flora, investments in existing fishing ports,
landing sites, construction or modernization of fishing shelters and the development
of new markets as well as promotional campaigns and pilot projects.
Priority axis 4: Sustainable development of fisheries areas
Axis 4 provides assistance for the sustainable development and improvement of the
quality of life in fisheries areas eligible as part of an overall strategy which seeks to
support the implementation of the objectives of the common fisheries policy. The
implementation of this axis will take into account its socio-economic effects.
Priority axis 5: Technical assistance
Axis 5 co-finances the preparatory, monitoring, administrative and technical support,
evaluation and audit measures and actions that are necessary for the implementation
of the Operational Programme.
6.
Fishing Shelters
The construction works for the fishing shelter at Zygi started in December
2007 and are expected to be completed in thirty months. The fishing shelter will
have the capacity of 220 vessels, and will also assist in the socioeconomic
development of the area. The restoration of the building which will host the offices of
the DFMR will be ready in January 2008.
The improvement works at the fishing shelter in Larnaca started in 2007 and
are expected to be completed during the first months of 2008.
Other improvement works have also been carried out at the fishing shelters of
Paralimni, Ayia Napa, Ormidia, Xylophagou and at Ayios Georgios Peyeias.
The sighting study and the environmental impact assessment for the
construction of a fishing shelter in the Pissouri area have begun in December 2007
and are expected to be completed in 12 months.
A main priority for the DFMR is the construction of a fish landing facility, in
order for Cyprus to comply with the EU regulations regarding food safety. The fish
landing facility will include auctioning areas, offices, areas for fresh fish packing,
refrigeration areas, storage areas and other necessary supplementary structures onland as well as port facilities which will cater both local fishing vessels as well as
other community fishing vessels.
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7.
Aquaculture
In 2007, the total aquaculture production (marine and fresh water) of market
size fish reached approximately 3260 tons of market size fish and 15 million marine
fish fry valued at CY£16,7 million.
Aquaculture production of market size fish, cultured in open sea cages,
reached 2200 tons of sea bass and sea bream and 1000 tons of blue fin tuna. The
total production of market size trout from the private sector reached 60 tons valued at
C£240.000. Additionally 150.000 ornamental fish were produced by the private sector
valued at C£150.000. The total production of marine hatcheries reached 15 million
fry, mainly sea bass and sea bream valued at C£1.5 million.
In 2007, there were in operation three marine fish hatcheries and one shrimp
hatchery/farm on land, as well as six private offshore cage farms culturing mainly sea
bass and sea bream and three offshore cage farms culturing/ fattening blue fin tuna.
Additionally, there were in operation six small trout farms, culturing mainly rainbow
trout and two farms culturing ornamental fish.
The Department of Fisheries and Marine Research (DFMR) is operating two
research stations, the Meneou Marine Aquaculture Research Station (MEMARS) and
the Fresh Water Aquaculture Research Station at Kalopanayiotis.
The Meneou Marine Aquaculture Research Station (MeMARS) is the centre
for research aiming at the development of marine aquaculture in Cyprus. The
research programmes that have been undertaken at MeMARS focused mainly on
new candidate species for fish farming, such as rabbit fish (Siganus rivulatus),
common pandora (Pagellus erythrinus), striped sea bream (Lithognathus mormyrus),
common dentex (Dentex dentex) and shi drum (Umbrina cirrosa). The main objective
of these research programmes is the diversification of aquaculture production with
new species, a task that will contribute to the sustainability of the sector. The main
projects that have been running during 2007 were i) Reproduction and larval rearing
protocols for the mass production of fry of the rabbitfish (Siganus rivulatus) and
nutritional requirements for fattening, ii) Reproduction and larval rearing protocols for
the mass production of fry of the common pandora (Pagellus erythrinus), iii) Gonadal
development and maturation of the striped sea bream (Lithognathus mormyrus), and
iv) Evaluation of the culture of rotifers with different feeds and determination of their
nutritional value. Furthermore, two new research programmes have been initiated for
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the reproduction and culture of amberjack (Seriola dumerili) and octopus (Octopus
vulgaris). MEMARS is participating in a European thematic educational network and
in the European Project COST Action 867 “Welfare of fish in European aquaculture”.
The Κalopanagiotis Freshwater Research Station modernization project
continued during the year 2007 with the construction and installation of new water
pumping system and the construction of an area for the installation of additional
water tanks. The reproduction trials of sturgeon continued with success, with the
mass production of sturgeon larvae. Additionally, studies on finding the optimum
environmental parameters for larval rearing with emphasis on commercial culture
conditions were carried out. Furthermore, a number of sturgeon fingerlings were
given to commercial farms in order to assess their production and market impact. In
addition, the culture of 2 other species of sturgeon is carried out for the establishment
of brood stock.
In 2007 the DFMR issued 1888 individual recreational angling permits for
recreational fishing in dams and reservoirs and 39 group permits for a total of 196
persons. Within the framework for the promotion and development of recreational
angling, 26.000 trout and a small number of other fish were released in several dams
and reservoirs.
8.
8.1
Evaluation and Research of Fisheries Resources
Stock Assessment of Fisheries Resources
During 2007 regular sampling of the catch of the inshore and trawl fisheries
was carried out for the purpose of stock evaluation of the 5 main fish species (Mullus
surmuletus, M. barbatus, Boops boops, Pagellus erythrinus and Spicara smaris) and
the study of their population dynamics.
Stock assessment results for 2006, which are based on the previous year
statistics, suggest that the first 4 species are over-exploited (with exploitation rate (E)
.67%, 0.63%, 0.59% and 0.55% respectively). S. smaris seems to be under-exploited
((E) 0.38%).
8.2
National Programme for the Collection of Fisheries Data
In 2007, the Cyprus National Programme for the Collection of Fisheries Data
was conducted for the third consecutive year, in accordance with Regulation (EC)
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1543/2000. The Programme is co-funded by the Cyprus Government and the
European Commission, and covers the following modules:
a) Module of Evaluation of Inputs: Fishing Capacities and Fishing Effort
b) Module of Evaluation of the Catches and Landings
c) Module of Evaluation of the Economic Situation of the Sector.
The scientific survey “International bottom trawl survey in the Mediterranean”
(MedITS), which is part of the Cyprus National Programme, was conducted
successfully in June. The aim of the survey is the evaluation of the abundance and
distribution and also the collection of length composition and other biological
parameters of the demersal species encountered in Cyprus waters.
9.
Pollution
In 2005, the Council of Ministers decided, within the framework for the best response
to marine pollution, first to create an immediate response team to combat marine
pollution and second to assign the pollution response to the private sector under the
supervision of
the Department of
Merchant Shipping of the Ministry of
Communication and Works.
10.
Fishing Monitoring Center (FMC)
During 2007, the successful operation of the Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) was
continued. Furthermore, System was upgraded in order to exchange information with
the other Member States. The VMS enables the Cyprus Fishing Monitoring Center to
monitor the Cyprus fishing vessels. Moreover, it allows the Fishing Monitoring
Centers of the other Member States to monitor the Cyprus fishing vessels as long as
they are fishing inside their Territorial Waters. The same is also applied for the fishing
vessel carrying the flag of other Member States, when these vessels enter the
Cyprus Territorial Waters. It is very important to mention that the EU has also access
on the VMS.
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The information which are provided by the VMS are the following:

Registration data for the fishing vessels

Longitudes and Latitudes for at least every hour

Date and time of Longitudes and Latitudes

Speed and Course
Cyprus submits Reports to the European Commission concerning the operation of
the Vessel Monitoring System. More specific, the following information was
submitted:

the number of fishing vessels subject to the VMS Regulation

the list of fishing vessels whose satellite-tracking devices have repeatedly
experienced technical failure or have repeatedly failed to function

the number of position reports received by the Fishing Monitoring Center

the aggregated time the fishing vessels spent in maritime zones identified by FAO
sub-areas
Finally, it is important to mention that the tender for the purchase and installation of
Satellite Tracking Devices on all the Cyprus professional fishing vessels less than 15
meters long, has been awarded. This is an effective project for the monitoring and
the control of the fishing activities for the offshore and pelagic fisheries. The whole
project is expected to finish in 2008.
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Outline of the Vessel Monitoring System
11.
Marine Biology and Ecology
The main activities in this field refer to the research programmes on marine
biodiversity, ecological relationships among marine macrobenthos and the ambient
environment, including studies on the effects of environmental disturbances on
marine macrobenthos, simultaneously with studies on nutrient and chlorophyll
dynamics of coastal waters.
The turtle conservation project at Lara continued in 2007. The aim of the
project is a) the protection of turtles b) the protection of their eggs and hatchlings
from predators and human activities, c) the protection and conservation of the
remaining reproductive biotopes d) monitoring of the population dynamics of the
turtles and their reproductive activity in Cyprus and e) public awareness for the
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protection and conservation of turtles, their biotopes and in general the marine
environment.
A comprehensive monitoring programme of the coastal waters was initiated
within the framework of Article 8 of the Water Framework Directive 2000/60/EC.
This programme is focused on the monitoring of 4 Biological Quality Elements BQEs (Phytoplankton, Macroalgae, Angiosperms and Benthic Macroinvertebrates),
together with the relevant physicochemical parameters in order to assess the
ecological status of the coastal waters. For this purpose two training courses were
carried out: The first, concerned the angiosperm Posidonia oceanica and was
implemented with the collaboration of the Hellenic Centre of Marine Research,
whereas the second was on Macroalgae with the collaboration of the Fisheries
Research Institute, Greece. The aim of both courses was the application of the
relative biotic indices for the assessment of the ecological status. The Division also
actively participated in the project “Development of an Integrated Water Monitoring
Programme
and
development
of
associated
databases
supporting
the
implementation of the Water Framework Directive 2000/60/EC in Cyprus”, in
collaboration with the Water Development Department and the State General
Laboratory.
A monitoring programme on the quality of the coastal waters, including the
assessment of pollutants (heavy metals etc.) in fish, which is implemented within the
framework of MEDPOL/UNEP, continued effectively. The same also applies for the
project on the Assessment of Radionuclides in the Marine Environment, which is
implemented under the project “RER/7/003 Environmental Assessment of the
Mediterranean Region” of the International Atomic Energy Agency.
Two projects were initiated within the framework of INTERREG III CyprusGreece, focusing on the development of an ecological model in order to assess the
impact of aquaculture and on the assessment of the ecological status of the coastal
waters respectively.
The activities foreseen (i.e. the study on the location of a mooring system at
Cape Greco etc.) within the EU Life project entitled: “Development of management
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plans in Natura 2000 sites” were implemented, while the ecological monitoring
studies on Larnaca and Akrotiri Salt Lakes complexes continued regularly.
12.
Physical Oceanography
-
In the framework of an agreement for cooperation with the University of
Cyprus the Oceanography Centre was established, in order to promote and develop
the oceanographic research in Cyprus and to consolidate the leading role of Cyprus
in the Eastern Mediterranean, within several EU oceanographic research projects,
particularly related to operational oceanography.
-
Oceanographic field works were carried in the SE Levantine, in order to
understand the local and sub-regional general circulation pattern, in the framework of
the CYBO (Cyprus Basin Oceanography). Surface drifters were deployed in the
Levantine Basin using VOS (Volunteer Observing Ships), in order to validate and
compare the drifters trajectories with those of the oil spill and trajectory predictions
carried out, in the framework of the EU MERSEA –IP (Marine Environment and
Security in the European areas) project. Moreover, field works were carried in the
coastal sea area of the Limassol bay, in the framework of the CYCO (Cyprus costal
oceanography) project.
-
Research works were continued in the framework of several ongoing EU
research projects:
MERSEA-IP
-Marine
Environment
and
Security
in
the
European
areas,
SeaDataNet- Pan European Infrastructure for Oceanographic Data Management,
ECOOP-European Coastal Shelf sea operational monitoring and forecasting system.
SESAME-Southern European Seas Assessing and modeling ecosystem changes.
CORI-Prevention and management of sea originated risks to the coastal zone.
Autonomous underwater oceanographic units for measuring sea water parameters.
Aqua-Planner- System for evaluating the environmental impact from marine
aquaculture.
-
A new research proposal was submitted and approved by the EU in the 7FP:
MyOCEAN, related to operational oceanography.
- Participation of the CYCOFOS coastal station in the NEAMTWS- North eastern
Atlantic Mediterranean tsunami warning system.
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-
Further developments of the CYCOFOS-Cyprus Coastal Ocean Forecasting
and Observing System were carried out, in order to provide daily high resolution
predictions on the sea currents, temperature and salinity in the sea area around
Cyprus, NE Levantine and the SE coastal zone of Cyprus. Moreover, in the
framework of cooperation with EMSA-European Maritime Safety Agency and the
Department of Merchant Shipping, the CYCOFOS remote sensing module was
upgrade in order to provided to the local agencies added value satellite images for
the detection of oil slicks in the eastern Levantine basin.
-
A meeting was organized to demonstrate to the local agencies the EU
MERSEA-IP experiments related to the inter-comparison of the drifters trajectory
with those of the oil spill and trajectory predictions, particularly of the Mediterranean
oil spill and trajectory model, known as MEDSLIK.
-
Installation and training of the staff of the Search and Rescue Center of the
Mediterranean trajectory model MEDSLIK, using the CYCOFOS forecasting data.
- Election of the Oceanography Center in the Advisory Board of CESM (International
Commission of the Mediterranean Sea), for the period 2007-2010.
-
Several articles, prepared by the researchers of the Center in collaborations
with other partners from EU, were published in international scientific journals, like
Deep Sea Research and Ocean Sciences. Moreover, several presentation of the
work carried out by the Center were presented in various meetings, workshops and
conferences.
- References in he World Bank report “Republic of Lebanon: Economic assessment
of environmental degradation due to July 2006 Hostilities. The World Bank:
Sustainable Development Department Middle East and North Africa Region, Report
No. 39787-LB, Oct. 11, 2007, on he successful application of the forecasting systems
of the Cyprus Oceanography Center, during the environmental crisis of Lebanon, in
summer 2006.
13.
Enforcement of the fisheries, Aquaculture and Fishing Shelters Laws
During 2007 the Fisheries Inspectors have performed patrols to enforce the
Fisheries, Aquaculture and Fishing shelters Laws and reported infringements that
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took place. On total, the Inspectors conducted 1002 patrols on land and 269 at sea,
while 150 infringements were reported.
(report2007)
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