“Through Cyprus’ Commitment, as well as the measures that will be implemented in the program we develop to monitor marine pollution and also the “Adopt a Beach” program, we are contributing towards the significant reduction of plastic pollution in our marine ecosystem, but also towards a better environment for all” Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, Maria Panayiotou noted in her intervention at the 9th International Conference “Our Ocean Conference” (OOC-9).
OOC-9 is hosted by Greece on 15-17 April 2024, at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center, in Athens and aims to highlight the active contribution to the management of international challenges around the sustainability of the oceans and strengthening of new transcendental perceptions.
According to a Ministry of Agriculture press release, Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, accompanied by officials from the Ministry’s Environment Department, participated in discussions covering issues such as ocean
security, green transition in shipping, but also management of marine pollution.
In her intervention, in a panel discussion on sea pollution from plastics, a major issue for Cyprus as an island, Maria Panayiotou spoke about the current situation, as well as the measures implemented aiming at waste management in the marine waters of Cyprus.
She noted that Cyprus is a tourist destination with millions of visitors arriving on the island for the excellent quality of its swimming waters. Moreover, she emphasized that it is important to keep both the sea waters and the coasts clean, which also creates an ecosystem suitable for Cyprus’s emblematic species, the Mediterranean seal, the green turtle and the Caretta caretta turtle.
Given the importance of reducing marine litter, the Minister stated that in Cyprus a targeted action to deal with marine litter has been implemented for collection and management. As she explained collection and recycling of mooring ropes from ports and waste from the seas, is implemented
by fishing trawlers in two fishing shelters and three coastal areas.
Through a marine litter monitoring program, she added, the characteristics and quantity of litter, as well as microplastics on beaches and seabed, are monitored on the beaches and at the bottom of the sea.
As she explained, this program in addition to the monitoring of waste in marine waters, also contributes to the monitoring of turtles, such as the protected species of sea turtle Caretta caretta, how turtles are affected by marine waste and their mortality rates.
Our goal, Minister of the Environment underlined, is to ensure that the marine environment is in good condition by minimizing or completely eliminating, if possible, marine litter on beaches and seabed.
She also indicated that, in order to deal with the problem of marine litter, the “Adopt a Beach” program includes Cyprus’ commitment to the protection of the marine environment through awareness and public participation in cleaning the beaches and/or the seabed, in particular c
hildren and young people, something that contributes to measures and solutions for environmental and pollution issues.
We are committed, Maria Panayiotou said, in concluding her input, that “our Commitment together with other measures that will be implemented will contribute towards the significant reduction of plastic pollution in our marine system and a better environment for all”.
The Conference hosts representatives of more than 120 countries, including Prime Ministers, Presidents, as well as Ministers and Deputy Ministers with responsibilities related to the Environment and Oceans, as well as representatives of important International and Regional Organizations.
In the framework of the Conference, Minister of Environment met on Tuesday with representatives of the ‘Pristine Seas’ Organization, with the aim of starting a collaboration aimed at highlighting the benefits of the creation of marine protected areas, especially in local communities.
Tuesday afternoon, she will have a meeting with her Greek c
ounterpart, Minister of Environment, Energy and Climate Change, Theodoros Skylakakis, during which they will discuss ways to strengthen cooperation between Greece and Cyprus, on issues related to environmental management. Particular emphasis will be placed on urban waste management issues and the management and protection of areas of the of the Natura 2000 Network, as well as cooperation and promotion of good practices related to waste reduction and further environmental protection.
Source: Cyprus News Agency