The Department of Fisheries and Marine Research is moving forward with placing demarcation buoys in key marine zones to safeguard habitat for the endangered Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus), Europe’s most threatened marine mammal.
Habitat degradation from coastal development, overfishing, and accidental entrapment in fishing gear remain the primary threats to the species. To counter these pressures, the department launched a public tender on September 8, 2026, to secure specialized services for marking three Marine Protected Areas (MPAs): the Sea Caves in Ayia Napa, Agios Georgios Alamanou in Limassol, and “Chalavro” at Latchi in Paphos.
However, the current plan includes no protection or buoy demarcation for the Sea Caves in Peyia, leaving environmental inspectors without physical boundary markers to prove illegal activity in the area. The designated protected zones extend from the shoreline down to depths of roughly 20 meters, serving as critical habitats for seal breeding, resting, and feeding.
Co-funded by the European Union through the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund, the 32-month contract carries an October 12, 2026 submission deadline.
Cyprus is home to an estimated 20 Mediterranean monk seals. The species relies heavily on isolated coastal caves to rest, give birth, and nurse young securely.
Under MPA regulations, year-round fishing is strictly prohibited, alongside seasonal or permanent bans on vessel passage and anchoring.
The Game and Fauna Service noted that marking the sites is essential for effective law enforcement and public guidance. Contractors will install a total of 14 marker buoys secured to concrete anchors across the three zones. Project guidelines strictly forbid contractors from installing concrete anchors on top of Posidonia seagrass meadows or clusters.
