Bad weather has severely impacted Liopetri fish farms, with significant numbers of farmed sea bass and bream escaping into the open sea, according to Cyprus’s Fisheries Department on Wednesday.
- Bad weather has severely impacted Liopetri fish farms, with significant numbers of farmed sea bass and bream escaping into the open sea, according to Cyprus's Fisheries Department on Wednesday.
- Officials are currently gathering damage assessments from producers, but they warn that determining precise losses will be challenging, as each fish farm can contain millions of fish.
Officials are currently gathering damage assessments from producers, but they warn that determining precise losses will be challenging, as each fish farm can contain millions of fish.
This incident is part of a troubling trend, as storms annually disrupt aquaculture operations in Cyprus. The escaped fish are now free in the waters, attracting the attention of recreational anglers eager to catch these popular species.
In light of the situation, the Fisheries Department has reminded anglers to adhere to the legal size limits for catching sea bass and bream. The minimum size for sea bass is set at 25 centimetres, while bream must measure at least 20 centimetres to be legally retained.
These species are among the top choices for Cypriot fishermen, and the recent storm has opened up new opportunities for recreational fishing along the Liopetri coastline and in Vasiliko, which hosts the island’s largest fish farm.
Looking ahead, Cyprus is bracing for further bad weather, with two storm systems predicted to affect the region from tonight through Sunday, potentially leading to additional challenges for local aquaculture and fishing activities.
