Many species of wetlands, as well as seabirds, marine mammals, turtles and the phanerogamous Posidonia oceanica are protected under the Fisheries Act Chapter 135, the National Fisheries Act 1971, the European Habitats Directive (92/43/ EEC), the European Birds Directive (2009/147/EC), the Barcelona Convention, the Ramsar Convention, etc. The measure implements the National and International legislations for the protection of species and habitats.Important habitats, including Posidonia oceanica seagrass meadows are protected under the Fisheries Law (CHAP. 135), the European Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC), the Barcelona Convention, the Ramsar Convention, etc. The protection of habitats with management measures and the definition of protected areas has contributed to the achievement of the environmental goals and the GES.The measures taken include establishing SPAs and banning activities that adversely affect marine ecosystems. The knowledge gap regarding habitats up to the 50 meters depth has been addressed by the completion of Measure 13 """"Mapping and assessment of Posidonia oceanica meadows and other important marine habitats under the European Habitats Directive (92/43/EC) , in the coastal waters of Cyprus"""" and this information has already been used for habitat protection with proposals for the establishment of a new N2K marine area and for the extension of an existing one. There is a knowledge gap for some marine habitats beyond 50 meters depth in the maritime territory of the Republic of Cyprus and the monitoring programs that will be implemented will derive new measures to protect these habitats. The mapping of habitats of the Habitats Directive in specific marine areas up to 200 meters of water depth (e.g. possible areas of presence of maerlbeds) will be completed in the period 2023-2024. Special Objective 1.6 of the 2021-2027 EMFAF is relevant. The aim is to continue the mapping and recording of possible sensitive offshore areas of interest which will be completed in the period 2023-2026.

Continuous assessment of the chemical and ecological status of coastal waters through monitoring of benthic macrofauna, macroalgae, Posidonia oceanica meadows and chlorophyll-a and the application of biotics in the context of the implementation of the Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC).

The measure concerns the mapping of the meadows of Posidonia oceanica and other habitats of the Habitats Directive, such as reefs, sandbanks with Cymodecea, etc., in areas outside the existing marine protected areas.

The measure concerns the carrying out of studies for the establishment of new marine protected areas and fisheries protected areas to protect hard substrates (natural reefs), Posidonia meadows, sea caves and potential offshore deep-sea habitats.

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.

Mapping of fishing pressure from bottom trawling and abundance index mapping (from independent fisheries surveys), in conjunction with areas, seasons, species of catch, scale and any further fisheries management.

Studies and monitoring of the effects of the creation of large projects in the coastal zone, so as to record the spatial extent occupied by the artificial constructions and any point discharges, as well as the impact on the wider area caused by them.

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.

Continuous implementation of the measure regarding the """"Dumping Protocol"""" and its amendments, of the Barcelona Convention (N.20(III)/2001) for the disposal of dredged material, for the protection of benthic habitats. The requirements related to the disposal of dredged materials are determined in the relevant document """"Guidelines for the management of dredges"""" and in the relevant permit issued by DFMR after fulfilling the conditions for a disposal permit. During the construction of coastal protection projects (e.g. breakwaters), a specific Environmental Impact Assessment Study (EIA) is required by the Environmental Authority, in accordance with the 2018 and 2021 Environmental Impact Assessment Laws ( L. 127(I)/2018, L. 23(I)/2021), where in the Environmental Approval that is issued, specific reference is made to securing a relevant license from the DFMR for the disposal point of the dredging materials, if such action is required.

For projects related to the reduction of coastal erosion such as the construction of breakwaters, an assessment is initially followed, for the most part, in accordance with the provisions of the Environmental Impact Assessment of Certain Plans and/or Programs Act of 2005 (N. 102(I)/2005). There is an initial submission of a Strategic Environmental Impact Assessment Study (SEIAS), its evaluation and issuance of the relevant Opinion of the Environmental Authority, which approves or varies the implementation of the Plan in question. Next, the implementation of these projects is examined through the submission of a relevant Environmental Impact Assessment Study (EIA), in accordance with the Laws of 2018 to 2021 on the assessment of the environmental impact of certain projects, its evaluation and the issuance of a relevant Environmental Approval which approves or rejects the implementation of the Project in question. Both the SEIAS and the EIA record the existing environment and the marine biodiversity of the area that will be affected by the proposed projects and a description of the potential significant impacts that the project may cause on the environment. Also, relevant measures to mitigate environmental impacts are proposed. Those measures are evaluated accordingly by the Environmental Authority and may or may not be adopted in its Opinion, as terms in the Appendix of Terms.