Adoption and implementation of the revised National Action Plan (NAP) for the implementation of the Protocol to combat pollution from land-based sources, of the Barcelona Convention (LBS Protocol) and other regional programs within the framework of the Strategic Action Program for the Mediterranean (SAP-MED) implemented by the Environment Department. In particular, among other river bed cleaning measures are implemented and point discharges are checked. The goal that has been set is to record a reduction in the amount of marine litter by 2024, so that the limit of 20 items for every 100 meters of beach is not exceeded. Municipal Waste Management Plan 2022 – 2028 The MWMP 2022 – 2028 builds on the achievements of the Municipal Waste Management Strategy and Plan 2015-2021 and sets out further measures, actions and procedures required for the sustainable management of waste and the transition of Cyprus to a zero-waste economy. It aims to fulfill the obligations of the Republic of Cyprus in accordance to Article 28 of Directive 98/2008/EC on waste. The waste management plan complies with the waste planning requirements set out in Article 14 of Directive 94/62/EC, with the objectives set out in Article 11 Paragraphs 2 and 3 of the Waste Directive and with the requirements set out in Article 5 of Directive 1999/31/EC and for the purposes of preventing the production of waste, with the requirements defined in Article 13 of the MSFD 2008/56/EC and Article 11 of the WFD 2000/60/EC for water policy. It includes measures on marine litter such as: ● Utilization of collected marine waste ● Development of software for the mapping and monitoring of marine litter

Public awareness of waste prevention through the implementation of the Municipal Waste Management Plan 2022-2028, which was prepared based on Article 29 of the European Directive 2008/98 on waste, the National Waste Prevention Program 2023-2029, which was prepared on the basis of article 29 of the Waste Framework Directive 2018/851/EU and articles 36Θ and 36IA of the """"Waste Law 2011-2022”. The Information and Awareness Measures of the MWMP 2022-2028, and the National Waste Prevention Program 2023-2029 include: ● Education and awareness campaigns ● Awareness and information campaigns aimed at the general public or specific groups of consumers. ● An integrated system of management, information, communication and monitoring of the projects promoted for the rational management of waste ● Providing information to citizens and businesses about the effects of single-use plastics and plastic pollution and to reduce plastic consumption and promote the reuse, refilling and recycling of plastics as well as the alternatives solutions available on the market. ● Providing information on the environmental impact of discharge to the environmental and other inappropriate ways of disposing of waste of fishing gear containing plastic material especially for the marine environment.

Since 2007, the Mediterranean Coast Day has been established by UNEP-MAP, which Cyprus, like all the Mediterranean states, supports and implements on an annual basis. The specific measure is a result of the EUMED Support Project for MSFD (PhaseII, CAM 2, Madrid), with the participation and agreement of the UNEP-MAP representative. The """"Mediterranean Coast Day"""" is celebrated every year on September 25, by the Mediterranean countries and the European Union. It is an information campaign that aims to highlight the value and environmental issues affecting the coast and its interaction with human activities. It focuses on informing stakeholders, policy-making centers, academic institutions, mass media, NGOs and the public.

Promotion of knowledge in cooperation with the Authorities participating in the implementation of the Cyprus River Basin Management Plan (RBMP), and mainly with the Municipalities and other local authorities, with the aim of intensifying the cleaning operations of rivers. This specific measure will contribute to the reduction of waste coming from rivers to coastal and marine areas. Also, the specific measure is a result of the discussions within the EUMED Support Project for MSFD (PhaseII, CAM 2, Madrid).

Promotion and implementation, to the greatest extent possible, of environmentally friendly """"fishing for litter"""" to facilitate the cleaning of the seabed from marine litter which is caught by-catch and/or produced by fishing vessels during their fishing activities, including abandoned fishing gear. The specific measure will implement marine litter collection systems in fishing shelters and is the result of discussions within the EUMED Support Project for MSFD (PhaseII, CAM 2, Madrid). During the implementation of the relevant program """"Intelligent monitoring and efficient waste reduction in Cyprus Island"""" Reference: LIFE20 IPE/CY/000011 |Acronym: LIFE-IP CYzero WASTE"""" with start date 01/10/2021 and end 30/09/2029, a marine waste collection system will be implemented in fishing shelters. Within the framework of the LIFE IP CYzero WASTE project actions have been included for marine debris concerning the creation of an integrated management system for marine waste and discarded fishing equipment as well as Marine Debris Collection Stations with pilot applications in 2-3 proposed fishing shelters (Paralimni - Famagusta District, Zygi and maybe Larnaca that have the appropriate space) with a time horizon of 12/2025-11/2029: More specifically, within the framework of Action C7, all the appropriate conditions will be created in order to initially operate an integrated waste management system in the two (2) pilot areas of waste collected from the sea in cooperation with fishing vessels in the areas, as well as discarded fishing equipment and of the disposal bins from the cooperating fishing shelters. In this context: ● A marine litter detection software will be developed to identify areas of marine debris concentrations in conjunction with the existing routes of the cooperating fishing vessels (C7.1 - Development Of Software Tool For Mapping And Monitoring Of Marine Debris). ● Appropriate marine debris collection stations will be created in the marine shelters by placing bins in a protected warehouse observing all relevant protection and hygiene regulations. In the same context, all the relevant equipment for the collection of waste (bags) will be provided as well as the identification data for tracking the quantities collected per fishing vessel. In addition, all the necessary equipment will be installed for the appropriate separation of the quantities of marine litter that will be collected and then all appropriate actions will be taken to transport them to appropriate recycling points (C7.2 Development of Marine Debris Collection Stations and Schemes). ● All appropriate physico-chemical analyzes will be carried out on samples taken from the quantities collected in order to control the quality of the quantities transported and to investigate new potential markets for the absorption of the materials (C7.3 Market Exploitation Of Marine Debris Collected).

Measures to inform fishermen (professional and recreational) about marine litter during the issuance of licenses and through informational material on social media networks.

The preliminary implementation stages of the measure started in 2018 through the research project """"MarinE litter transnational Legislation Enhancement and Improvement"""" (MELTEMI) funded by Interreg Balkan Mediterranean 2014-2020 and included the preparation of an implementation guide. The implementation of the measure is expected within 2024, which will be financed by Special Objective 4.1 of the EMFAF 2021-2027.

The creation of a National Waste Prevention Program is an obligation of the member states based on article 29 of the Waste Framework Directive (2018/851/EC as amended by Directive 2018/851/EU). The Program defines the framework of the actions and measures to be implemented in the next six years with the aim of preventing the generation of waste. These measures include horizontal measures related to the prevention, reuse and improvement of the design of products and services but also measures that focus on priority sectors namely food, tourism, construction, textiles, plastics and electricity and electronic equipment. The NWPP 2023-2029 also includes measures to reduce the consumption of certain single-use plastics, as described in Part A, Annex VIA, of the """"Waste Law 2011-2022"""". Specifically, they concern consumption reduction measures for: ● Cups, including their covers and lids ● Food containers, i.e. containers such as boxes, with or without lids, into which food is placed which: (a) are intended for immediate consumption either on-site or outside the store, (b) are usually consumed from the container, and (c) are ready to eat without further preparation, e.g. cooking, boiling or heating At the same time, national targets for reducing the consumption of these single-use plastic products are set, through National Regulations.

The European Waste Prevention Week is an initiative that aims to promote at a European level the implementation of actions to raise public awareness in matters of sustainable use of resources and waste management based on the prioritization-reduction, reuse, recycling, with a peak of the actions in the penultimate week every November. In Cyprus, the national coordinator is the Environment Department of the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment. In this context, all involved bodies, such as Local Government Authorities, collective waste management systems, educational institutions, private businesses, organized groups and non-governmental organizations, as well as the general public, are encouraged to be actively involved in actions related to waste reduction, reuse and recycling, as well as promoting the principles of the circular economy and the rational management of waste. Through an electronic platform www.ewwr.eu the interested public can submit and communicate their actions, refer to useful information about the waste prevention week and how to submit actions, review available educational tools and other useful material that can be used in the actions as well as updating actions that have been previously submitted or that are planned. The Municipal Waste Management Plan 2022-2028 & National Waste Prevention Program 2023-2029 (NWPP) - Awareness for the prevention of waste generation through the implementation of the MWMP 2022 - 2028, which was prepared based on Article 29 of the European Directive 2008/98 on waste, the National Prevention Program of Waste Generation 2023-2029, which was prepared based on article 29 of the Framework Directive on waste 2018/851/EU and articles 36Θ and 36IA of the """"Waste Law 2011-2022. The Information and Awareness Measures of the MWMP 2022-2028, and the NWPP 2023-2029 include: • Education and awareness campaigns • Awareness and information campaigns aimed at the general public or specific groups of consumers. • Integrated system of management, information, communication and monitoring of the projects promoted for the rational management of waste • Providing information to citizens and businesses about the effects of single-use plastics and plastic pollution and to reduce the consumption of plastics and promote the reuse and refilling and recycling of plastics, as well as the alternatives available on the market. • Providing information on the environmental impacts of the environmental discharge and other inappropriate ways of disposing of waste of fishing gear containing plastic material, especially for the marine environment.

According to the Waste Law 2011 to 2022 and specifically article 36Δ, measures should be drawn up to achieve an ambitious and sustainable reduction in the consumption of single-use plastic products listed in Part A of Annex VIA (single-use plastic cups and plastic containers food). These measures are included in the plans or programs referred to in article 36IB during its first subsequent update, or in any other program drawn up specifically for this purpose. According to article 36IB, among others, the measures taken to implement this Part of the Law are an integral part and are consistent with: (a) the programs of measures established in accordance with article 13 of the Marine Strategy Laws of 2011 and 2014; (b) the programs of measures established in accordance with article 19 of the Water Protection and Management Laws of 2004 to 2018, (c) the waste reception and management plans established pursuant to the Reception Facilities and Prohibition of Discharge at Sea of Ship Waste and Cargo Residue Regulations of 2021.

Within the framework of Directive 2019/904/EU on the reduction of the impact of certain plastic products on the environment, which has been harmonized through the """"Waste Law 2011-2022"""", until December 31, 2024, an Extended Producer Responsibility System will be established for the fishing gear containing plastic (article 36Θ). Specifically, producers of fishing gear containing plastic are required to cover: (i) the cost of separate collection of fishing gear waste that contains plastic and has been delivered to appropriate port reception facilities in accordance with the Reception Facilities and Prohibition of Discharge at Sea of Ship Waste and Cargo Residue Regulations of 2021, or other equivalent collection systems which do not fall within the scope of that Directive and the costs of their subsequent transport and processing, and (ii) the cost of the awareness measures referred to in section 36IA for fishing gear containing plastic material.

The measure concerns the implementation of studies for the establishment of new protected marine fishing areas to achieve the Biodiversity goals 2030 by: • Protecting breeding grounds and nurseries of commercially important species, in coordination with the Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC) and Regulation 1967/2006, • Combined with new artificial reefs to recover fish stocks and reduce pressure on natural reefs, • As ecological corridors, in combination with the installation of new artificial reefs. Establishment of marine protected areas (Natura 2000) within the framework of the Directive on the Conservation of Habitats and Wild Fauna and Flora (92/43/EC) and the Protocol on Specially Protected Areas of Biodiversity in the Mediterranean of the Barcelona Convention. So far, 7 coastal Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) have been established within the Natura 2000 network (Habitats Directive, 92/43/EEC EU-HD) for the protection of Annex I habitats. The measure also involves the establishment within MPA of artificial reefs,structures intentionally placed on the seabed, which aim to mimic the properties provided by a natural reef such as shelter, nutrition, reproduction, growth and increase in size and number of the population of living marine organisms. The Artificial reefs (AR) withn MPAs measures consists of a group of actions /projects co-financed by the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) - Operational Program """"SEA 2014-2020"""" and the European Maritime Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) 2021-2027. It involves the creation of new AFs and/or the upgrading and enrichment of existing AFs with new sections. It includes actions related to the preparation and implementation of management plans, monitoring and surveillance, public awareness, information and education and will further promote the protection and management of the coastal marine ecosystems.

Management measures have been established/proposed for the """"SAC Thalassia Periochi Moulia - CY4000006” and """" SAC Thalassia Periochi Nisia CY3000006"""" marine areas, of the N2K network, which include various management measures, through the Nature and Wildlife Protection and Management Law of 2003 (N. 153(I) /2003), while for the rest of the areas they are in their implementation stage. Within these measures there are regulations concerning various human activities and projects such as for example the anchoring of boats, fishing, the construction of breakwaters, etc. MPAs were established under the 'Fisheries Act' and management plans established under Ordinances include regulations / prohibitions in relation to fishing, the passage of vessels or other watercraft (including non-motorised) and their mooring. The measure will contribute to the evaluation and definition of new management measures for MPAs including the offshore MPA """"Oceanis"""" which will take into account the limits of Good Environmental Status. Since the institutional creation of the first MPA with AR until 2023, at the six AR existing there has been enrichment with constructions of artificial reefs. In the context of the implementation of the Operational Program Thalassa 2014-2020 which is completed at the end of 2023, as well as in the context of other initiatives (INTERREG in 2022) these areas have been enriched. Also in 2022, a scientific monitoring program was completed, while there is an ongoing process of marking the areas in order to more effectively monitor them. With regard to the management of the MPAs with AR, based on Article 5A of the Fisheries Law, the DFMR will proceed with the creation of management plans for these areas in order to regulate human activities, the transit of vessels and to create operating rules in these areas.