Member State report / Art18 / 2018 / D10 / Cyprus / Mediterranean: Aegean-Levantine Sea

Report type Member State report to Commission
MSFD Article Art. 18 Interim report on programme of measures
Report due 2018-10-15
GES Descriptor D10 Litter
Member State Cyprus
Region/subregion Mediterranean: Aegean-Levantine Sea
Reported by Department of Fisheries and Marine Research, Ministry of Agriculture Rural Development and Environment
Report date 2021-02-09
Report access msfd-ART18.xml
Marine reporting units
Features
Measure code
54
55
56
57
58
59
62
63
64
Measure name
National Action Plan for Marine Litter
General awareness raising (general public) on marine litter
Set up of, and participation in, the Mediterranean day for beach cleaning, together with all Mediterranean Member States (UNEP/MAP related measure)
Promoting knowledge and cooperation between municipalities for cleaning efforts of river bed areas in places where it is deemed ecologically necessary
Promotion and implementation of ‘fishing for litter’ initiative
Knowledge promotion through providing targeted information to professional and recreational fishermen on the effects of marine litter and tools to reduce such pollution from fishing activities
Application of SEA and EIA procedure (Directives)
Database of Marine data
Administrative support and monitoring tools
Measure category (type)
1a
1a
2b
2b
2a
2b
1a
2a
2a
Progress in implementation
Measure implemented
Implementation not started
Implementation started
Implementation not started
Implementation started
Implementation started
Measure withdrawn
No
Yes
No
No
No
No
Reason for withdrawal
Other
Year of implementation (Temporal coverage - timeline for implementation)
2017
2021
2023
2017
Delay
0
0
0
0
Reasons for delay
Other obstacles (Obstacles to implementation)
No
No
No
No
Yes
No
Type of obstacle
Technical implementation
Further information on obstacle (Description)
Data are not always stored electronically and are not centralised. Information regarding the MSFD are collected and archived, not always in a formats that can be readily accessed. There is a need to build a centralised database that can collect store and disseminate data for the MSFD. The goverment bodies that collect data related to MSFD are: Department of Fisheries and Marine Research Department of Enviroment, Department of Works -Marine Division Department of Lands and Surveys Fauna and Wildlife Service (Birds) Ministry of Energy, Commerce, Industry and Tourism
Brief description of progress (measurement of effectiveness of measure)
MELTEMI project Collaboration with private sector for clean ups.
Cyprus, from 2019 has been organizing events for the Mediterranean Coastal day, in order to raise awareness to the public on the problem of marine litter, including beach-clean ups. Specifically, in 2019, an event was organized in Cyprus, with UNEP/MAP director participating, together with speakers and experts from Cyprus, Greece, Croatia, Montenegro, Lebanon, etc.
The guidelines of the "fishing for litter" procedures together with informational material are being prepared in order to implement the initiative in the following years
The database currently used by the DFMR is called "THETIS". Thetis is not connected to the other government agencies collecting data related to MSFD. The process for upgrading the database to make it more functional has began. The DFMR has contacted various MS requesting information on their databases. Measures to be taken are the evaluation of Databases currently used by MS, applicability for the Cyprus MSFD program, tender and acquisition of a modern internet based database. Input of all data related to MSFD. This process is estimated to be completed by 2023.
Monitoring tools and administrative support for D11 is in the process of being planned and evaluated. Quietmed II and Quietseas that Cyprus has and will participate in will assist in the administrative implemetnation. Monitoring tools for D11 are currently lucking but a process has been initiated and funds have been requested. The DFMR is in discussion with the Cyprus Marine and Maritime Institute (CMMI) an independent, international, scientific and business Centre of Excellence for marine and maritime research, technological development and innovation.