Voroklini marine area enriched with third submerged vessel

The enrichment of the Voroklini marine protected area with artificial reefs jhas continued, with the submerging of the vessel 'Lambousa II' in the presence of the Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment Dr. Maria Panayiotou and representatives of various organisations.

This is the third ship to be sunk in the area in the last five years, with the Minister referring to the benefits of this practice in terms of increasing fish stocks, as well as opportunities for diving and environmental awareness.

At the same time, speaking at the 16 February event, Panayiotou gave assures that they will continue to consistently implement the protection and sustainable management of marine resources, adding that in collaboration with all stakeholders, they will work to ensure that the protection of the marine environment is combined with opportunities for development and sustainable utilization.

Speaking on board a vessel to watch the submerging of 'Lambousa II' Dr. Panagiotou said that, "today we are becoming part of an important action for marine life, ecosystem protection, and the enhancement of fishing." The area in which we are located was established as a marine protected area in 2020.

She added that the marine protected area of Voroklini "has limited natural reefs and its gradual enhancement contributes to the creation of more spaces for development, feeding, and protection for marine life and to the increase of fish stocks. About five years ago, and at a distance of approximately 500 meters, in collaboration with the Larnaca Tourism Development and Promotion Company, the city's Chamber of Commerce, and other entities, the ship 'Elpida' was placed at a depth of 30 meters and the ship 'Lef1' at a depth of 14 meters.

Today, she added, 'Lambousa II,' a 23-meter vessel, embarks on a new mission to become a haven of life on the seabed. The vessel, which was granted to the Department of Fisheries and Marine Research to be used as an artificial reef, was built in Romania in 1995, and in 2003 it was registered in the Cypriot ship registry," adding that "having completed its life cycle, from today it will serve as a habitat for various marine organisms."

Dinos Lefkaritis, President of the Larnaca Tourism Development and Promotion Company (ETAP), described today as "very significant because we managed, after several attempts, to enrich the reef off the coast of Larnaca with another ship, which was offered to the Ministry by the company Brasal Marine, whom we thank."

He added that "there was an excellent collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, the Department of Fisheries, the Larnaca Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the Larnaca Tourism Development and Promotion Company, as well as all the city's stakeholders, to achieve this effort that we have envisioned for a very long time." The Larnaca Tourism Development and Promotion Company, he said, will continue to strive to further enrich the area's reef, whether with amphorae as we did some time ago, or with other actions."

As Lefkaritis said, "we take pride in Larnaca, which has an excellent diving tourism and every year we have a larger number of tourists."

(Source: CNA)