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|  | Areas of Interest
■ Research on Marine Ecology
■ Marine Biodiversity
■ Protection and conservation of endangered aquatic species and habitats
■ Development of Marine Protected Areas
■ Anthropogenic impacts on marine ecosystem
■ Coastal / marine water quality
Overview
Cyprus is surrounded by the waters of the Levantine basin, in the eastern Mediterranean, which are characterized by higher temperature and salinity regimes than those of the western Mediterranean. It is one of the poorest marine areas of the global ocean in terms of productivity. This is due to its ulta-oligotrophic nature, i.e. it has very low concentrations of nutrients. Even though it has a low productivity, it is nonetheless characterized by a high biodiversity, it has in other words a large variety of species of flora and fauna, which are met in low abundance.
One of the most important ecosystems in the Mediterranean is that of the meadows of Posidonia oceanica. Posidonia is a sea grass endemic to the Mediterranean. The meadows it forms support a large variety of species of flora and fauna and provide one of the most important reproductive habitats for many animals, as well as refuge for many others. They enrich seawater with large quantities of oxygen, stabilize the sea bottom and in general sustain the ecological balance of the sea. Moreover, Posidonia is an important biological indicator, as it is a pollution-sensitive species and any environmental disturbance has an effect on the Posidonia ecosystem as a consequence. The Monk seal, marine turtles, pen shell and many others, are listed as species of particular ecological and conservation interest in the Mediterranean.
The maintenance of the good quality of the ambient environment (water, sediment etc.) is a prerequisite for the protection and conservation of the high biodiversity of the Cyprus seas. Consequently, retaining or achieving the good ecological status of the seas around Cyprus is the primary objective of the Division of Marine Environment of the DFMR.
To achieve this aim it is necessary to acquire the appropriate knowledge of the island’s biodiversity, as well as of the ecological processes that shape the marine ecosystem and of the factors / activities which negatively affect it.
The Marine Environment Division undertakes a variety of activities/programs focused on the monitoring of seawater quality, as well as on ecology and biodiversity conservation.
The main factors affecting the coastal/marine environment of Cyprus include the tourist/urban development of the coast, pollution – particularly nutrient inputs from point and non-point sources -, invasive alien species (which are mainly Lessepsian ones, i.e., they came through the Suez Canal) and coastal works. These factors have a negative impact and cause significant ecological changes that disturb the marine environment. Overfishing, on the other hand, leads not only to a significant reduction of fish stocks but also to ecological imbalances. The intense human exploitation of the coastal environment has inevitably lead to the degradation or destruction of important biotopes, increasing the threat of extinction of endangered species and consequently endangering biodiversity.
Nonetheless, on the whole, the marine environment of Cyprus is still in a good state, as industrial development in Cyprus is limited.
Activities
■ Research on marine ecology with a particular emphasis on marine biodiversity.
■ Environmental impact assessment studies on the effects on the marine ecosystem from various anthropogenic activities, such as aquaculture, desalination, breakwaters, sewage etc.
■ Monitoring studies on the expansion of invasive alien species in the marine environment of Cyprus.
■ Monitoring of eutrophication events with the macroalgae Cladophora spp., Ulva spp., Enteromorpha spp. etc. and monitoring of nutrient and chlorophyll-α variation in the coastal waters of Cyprus.
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■ Implementation of protection and conservation programs for endangered aquatic species and their habitats, e.g., program for the conservation of marine turtles (Chelonia mydas & Caretta caretta), monk seal (Monachus monachus), endemic grassnake (Natrix natrix cypriaca) etc.
■ Setting up of marine protected areas including the development of artificial reefs.
■ Evaluation of Environmental Impact Assessment studies.
■ Study of the ecology and monitoring of the environmental parameters of the Larnaca Salt Lake complex and Akrotiri wetlands. Participation in the Committee for the implementation of Larnaca Salt Lake Management Plan.
■ Implementation of the Directives: i) Habitat Directive (92/43/ΕC), ii) Water Framework Directive (2000/60/ΕC) and iii) Nitrate Directive (91/676/ΕC), in the areas concerning the marine environment.
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Funded Programs
■ European
MedVeg, www.medveg.dk: Effects of nutrient release from Mediterranean fish farms on benthic vegetation in coastal ecosystems.
Avicenne: Impacts of aquaculture on marine macrobenthos.
MedMPA: Regional Project for the development of marine protected areas in the Mediterranean.
Life: Special Areas of Conservation (Directive 92/43/EC) in Cyprus: Participation in the part which concerns the wetlands and the marine environment.
LIFE04NAT/CY000013: Focus on the protection and management of some proposed areas for the NATURA 2000.
■ Regional
ΜEDPOL/UNEP: Monitoring program on the quality of the coastal waters, including the assessment of pollutants (heavy metals etc.) in fish.
CAMP/PAP-MAP/UNEP: Participation in the Coastal Zone Management Program for Cyprus. |
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