coastal trawling — coastal trawling — Oceana has called for a ban on bottom trawling in Cyprus, emphasising the potential environmental and economic advantages of establishing an exclusive coastal fishing zone for small-scale fishers.
Photo: cyprus-mail.com
- Odran Corcoran, Oceana's policy advisor, stated, “Cyprus has a clear opportunity to strengthen its coastal economy while protecting the sea it depends on.”
The proposal was unveiled on Thursday during European Maritime Day celebrations in Limassol. This announcement coincided with the release of new analysis revealing that only five bottom trawlers operated within Cyprus’ 12-nautical-mile territorial waters from 2021 to 2025, logging just over 750 hours of fishing in total, mostly from two Cypriot vessels.
Oceana argues that the data indicates creating a protected coastal zone for small-scale fishers would minimally impact commercial fishing while aiding in the preservation of marine ecosystems and the support of coastal communities.
Odran Corcoran, Oceana’s policy advisor, stated, “Cyprus has a clear opportunity to strengthen its coastal economy while protecting the sea it depends on.”
Bottom trawling, which involves dragging weighted nets across the seabed, is notorious for its destructive impact on marine habitats. Oceana asserts that a ban on this practice would contribute significantly to the protection of various marine species, enhance ecosystem resilience against climate change, and safeguard marine protected areas, many of which are located within Cyprus’ territorial waters.
Support for the proposal has emerged from the Cyprus Union of Professional Coastal Fishermen, who have urged the fisheries department to endorse the establishment of a preferential access area for small-scale fishers.
Currently, Cyprus protects only 12 per cent of its waters, still falling short of the European Union’s target of 30 per cent by 2030. Advocates argue that the proposed ban on bottom trawling could play a crucial role in achieving better protection for the marine environment, thus benefiting both the ecosystem and the local fishing community.
