Environmental concerns have escalated over the fishing shelter in Kato Pyrgos, Cyprus, due to the discharge of liquid waste and sewage into the sea.
The coastal community, lacking a proper sewage system, relies on septic tanks that have not been cleaned for decades, resulting in sewage discharge into the sea. The issue is compounded by waste from local facilities, including a cafeteria and police station.
A recent decision to conduct dredging operations at the harbour entrance, disposing of materials at a depth exceeding 200 metres, has intensified worries. While such operations may be permissible in certain cases, the primary concern is the disposal of liquid waste and sewage alongside sediment.
The matter gained prominence following complaints and the announcement of a public contract for dredging the Kato Pyrgos fishing shelter. A formal complaint was lodged in April 2021 with Cypriot and EU authorities regarding marine pollution in the area.
In March 2022, the parliamentary Environment Committee examined related grievances. The Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development, and Environment pledged to halt the systematic disposal of sediment and liquid organic material from the fishing shelter into the sea, committing to land-based management instead.
However, on July 19, 2024, the Public Works Department announced a public contract for dredging the fishing shelters of Kato Pyrgos and Pomos. The project, valued at €520,000, is co-financed by the EU’s European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund.
Environmental organisations have written to the Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development, and Environment, questioning the consistency of the public contract with the ministry’s earlier commitment and seeking clarification on why land-based management is not prioritised to prevent further marine pollution.
