The marine environment of Cyprus is considered to be in good environmental status by the year 2020 if non-indigenous species (NIS) introduced by human activities are at levels that do not adversely alter the ecosystem. Due to the high uncertainty as to the impacts of widespread invasive alien species, and the highly invasive nature of the better studied species, the environmental status of Cyprus waters with regards to Descriptor 2 is determined at the level of the descriptor to be 0.5, i.e., Cyprus waters are not in GES with respect to Descriptor 2.

The number of non-indigenous species which are newly introduced via human activity into the wild, per assessment period (6 years), measured from the reference year as reported for the initial asessment under Article 8(1) of Directive 2008/56/EC, is minimised and where possible reduced to zero.

Abundance and spatial distribution of established non-indigenous species, particularly of invasive species, contributing significantly to adverse effects on particular species groups or broad habitat types.