Paphos Municipality is launching, for the first time, an organised programme to prevent, detect early and respond to pollution incidents at sea, as part of its ongoing effort to protect and upgrade the coastal environment.
For this purpose, the municipality has signed a contract with a specialised contractor, who will carry out daily patrols along the coastal front of the Paphos and Yeroskipou Municipalities for a period of four months, using properly crewed vessels and specialised personnel.
The patrols will take place daily, seven days a week, in morning and afternoon shifts, covering both the areas near designated swimming zones and the open sea. The aim is continuous surveillance of the coastal area and early detection of any form of pollution.
The contractor will focus particularly on detecting and immediately addressing oil spills, solid waste, debris, sewage and other polluting substances. In the event of an incident, the contractor will immediately carry out the necessary containment and clean-up measures, using specialised anti-pollution equipment and waste collection resources.
There will also be continuous communication and coordination with the relevant authorities. A record and documentation will be kept for every incident, to ensure effective monitoring of the situation.
The total value of the contract is 50,000 euros, funded by the Cyprus Ports Authority and the Paphos and Yeroskipou Municipalities.
Through the programme, Paphos Municipality aims to substantially strengthen protection of swimming areas and the wider coastal ecosystem, reduce response times to potential pollution incidents, and help maintain the seas and coastline of the area at a high standard of cleanliness and environmental quality.
The announcement said protecting the marine environment is a significant priority for Paphos Municipality, both for residents’ quality of life and for the safety of the thousands of residents and visitors who use the area’s beaches every day.
