Management and Research of Fisheries Resources Scope The Fishery Resources Sector aims the viable management of fisheries resources. Fisheries resources management is achieved through fisheries research, the collection of fishery data and their utilisation for the sustainable exploitation of the Cyprus fisheries resources, as well as the mapping out of the Governments fisheries policy. The data collected are: 1. Biology of the economically most important species of fish 2. Fishing fleet activity 3. Fishing capacity of fishing vessels (capacity, power) 4. Fishing effort (days at sea, type and quantity of fishing gear) 5. Catches (quantitative and qualitative data for marketed and nonmarketed species) 6. Economic situation of the fisheries sector Catch profile The most important species group for Cyprus is Spicara spp, with Spicara smaris being the dominant catch, comparing to much smaller quantities of the other species of the group. In 2003 the most significant species (in weight) for Cyprus were: Spicara smaris (Picarel) 500 t, Boops boops (Boque) 15 t, Mullus surmuletus (Stripped Red mullet) 130 t, Sepia Officinalis (Common cuttlefish) 85 t, Mullus barbatus (Red mullet) 84 t and Thunnus thynnus (Atlantic bluefin tuna) 79 t. Almost half (44%) of the landed Cypriot catch is classified by species, the rest of the catch is grouped at family or higher level. The Cyprus marine capture production for the year 2003 is shown on Table 1, *for more information see Fisheries Statistics. The Cyprus catch show a clear decline of production in 1974, which is related to the unrest during that time, and the lack of control by the Cypriot government over some fishing grounds since then. The production started increasing because of Government measures and showed a remarkable increase after the 1981 management measures, known as the “Cyprus effect�. Similar increase was noted after the 1991 management measures. However, since 1994 there is a steady decline of the fisheries production, resulting in a production of less than 1 750 ton in 2003. Since the accession of Cyprus to the EU (May 2004), there was an increase of the mesh size of the bottom trawl. This change had direct repercussions in the total production of demersal and mesopelagic species for
2004, mainly for the Picarel (Spicara smaris), since the fishery season for trawls in territorial waters expired on 31 May. Further more, for year 2005, it is expected that the production of the above species, which constitutes the most important fish catch of Cyprus, will present a dramatic reduction. Table 1: Cyprus marine capture production 2003 Scientific name Spicara spp Boops boops Mullus surmuletus Osteichthyes Octopodidae Sepia officinalis Mullus barbatus Thunnus thynnus Xiphias gladius Sparidae Siganus spp Thunnus alalunga Scaridae Pagellus acarne Pagellus erythrinus Dentex dentex Pagrus pagrus Epinephelus spp Seriola dumerili Elasmobranchii Serranidae Merluccius merluccius Oblada melanura Scorpaenidae Euthynnus alletteratus Sardina pilchardus Total
Species (groups) Picarels nei Boque Stripped Red Mullet Marine fishes nei Octopuses, etc, nei Common cuttlefish Red mullet Atlantic bluefin tuna Swordfish Porgies, seabreams nei Spinefeet(=Rabbitfishes) nei Albacore Parrotfishes nei Axillary seabream Common pandora Common dentex Red porgy Groupers nei Greater amberjack Sharks, rays, skates, etc. nei Groupers, seabasses nei European hake Saddled seabream Scorpionfishes nei Little tunny(=Atl. Black skipj) European pilchard (=Sardine)
Ton 580 151 130 129 93 85 84 79 47 44 44 30 26 25 21 16 16 15 13 13 12 11 11 11 10 7 1741
Marine sub-sector The Cyprus marine capture fishery (marine sub-sector) consists of the inshore fishery, the trawl fishery and the multipurpose fishery. There is also one purse seiner operating in the waters of Cyprus. The sport fishery is also included in the capture fishery, but it is not reflected in the Fishery Statistics. •
The Inshore Fishery is practiced with small wooden boats of 6 to 12 m length overall (O.A.L), which mainly fish with bottom set nets and long lines (passive gears) and fish traps. In 2003 677 persons were occupied as full time fishermen in 500 licensed boats.
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The Trawl Fishery (mobile gears) consists of 22 bottom fishing trawlers of 21,4 to 26,8 m (OAL) with 220-750 HP diesel engines. All of them are stern trawlers of steel or wooden hull. Eight trawlers are licensed to operate in the waters of Cyprus, whereas the others exclusively operate in international waters in the Mediterranean. In 2003 144 fishermen were fully occupied on these 22 trawlers. The Polyvalent Fishery is practiced with boats of about 16 m OAL in the waters of Cyprus and in international waters in the east Mediterranean. The polyvalent vessels fish with nets and bottom long lines but periodically also with surface long lines, fishing for swordfish/tuna. In 2003 105 fishermen were fully occupied in 38 boats licensed for multipurpose fishing.
Table 2 gives data about the Cyprus fisheries segments, i.e. for the inshore fishery, the trawl fishery (Cyprus and international waters) and for the polyvalent fishery. The production, number of working days, fleet total size in KW, as well as the production per working day for the years 2000 to 2004 is shown on the Table. *for more information see Fisheries Statistics Recreational sub-sector Recreational Fisheries is practiced both, in the sea and the freshwater reservoirs in Cyprus. All sport fishermen need a licence for fishing, with the exception of persons who fish with rod and line and with speargun. The categories of sport fishing that need license are - boats with nets and long lines - scuba divers - divers with lights and spear guns - fishing with nets – without boats - fishing in the reservoirs. About 2000 individuals are licenced sport fishermen in the sea. This sport fishery captures about 15% of the total catch of Cyprus. Its catch is not yet reflected in the Fishery Statistics, as the attention of the DFMR has only recently focused on this fishery.
Table 2: Data on the segments of the Cyprus Fishery YEAR
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 YEAR
PRODUCTION M.TONS 1.341,40 1.168,70 1.062,80 972,50 639,38 PRODUCTION M.TONS
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 YEAR
313,6 415,6 375,3 394,0 536,6 PRODUCTION M.TONS
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 YEAR
406,8 425,2 236,7 222,6 123,4 PRODUCTION M.TONS
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004
157,1 237,1 211,2 132,8 408,7
WORKING DAYS
INSHORE FISHERY No. OF FLEET VESSELS TOTAL m. O.A.L.
FLEET TOTAL KW
111.391 500 4.274,10 19.130,51 101.098 500 4.015,00 16.085,29 84.257 500 4.135,80 19.479,04 72.588 500 4.033,50 17.713,60 64.237 500 4.042,15 17.619,98 TRAWL FISHERY CYPRUS WATERS WORKING No. OF FLEET FLEET TOTAL DAYS VESSELS TOTAL m. KW O.A.L. 1.000 8 193,0 2474 1.305 8 193,2 2474 1.412 8 191,9 2500 1.388 8 191,9 2500 1448 8 191,9 2500 TRAWL FISHERY INTERNATIONAL WATERS WORKING No. OF FLEET FLEET TOTAL DAYS VESSELS TOTAL m. KW O.A.L. 1.309 12 292,5 4022 2.316 16 387,7 5568 916,0 22 531,1 7105 1102,0 16 381,0 6598 874 16 370,3 5127 POLYVALENT FISHERY WORKING No. OF FLEET FLEET TOTAL DAYS VESSELS TOTAL m. KW O.A.L. 1.286 1.615 2.006 1.446 1868
24 24 33 38
405,3 378,9 499,9 581,1
PRODUCTION/ WORKING DAY Kg 12,04 11,56 12,61 13,40 9,95 PRODUCTION/ WORKING DAY Kg 313,6 318,5 265,8 283,8 370,6 PRODUCTION/ WORKING DAY Kg 310,8 183,6 258,4 202,0 141,2 PRODUCTION/ WORKING DAY Kg
4386,00 4008,10 6753,68 7089,30
Main resources The main resources exploited by the fisheries of Cyprus can be divided into two categories of fish species: the demersal and the large pelagics. Small pelagic species can not be considered as principal stocks. The demersal species are targeted by the inshore and the trawl fishery (Cyprus and international waters) and include the species Spicara smaris, Boops boops, Mullus surmuletus, M. barbatus and the groups Octapodidae, Mulluscs and other demersal species (See Table 2). The large pelagic species are targeted by the polyvalent fishery in the waters of Cyprus and the international waters of east Mediterranean and include the species Thunnus thynnus, Xiphias gladius, and Thunnus alalunga. The latter species is being targeted by the polyvalent and the sport fishery the last two years and has shown an abrupt increase in production.
122,2 146,8 105,3 91,8 218,8
Main problems of Fisheries Sector The main problems of the fisheries sector are: 1. Reduction of the fishing grounds of Cyprus, because of the Turkish occupation. 2. Overfishing of some demersal and pelagic species. 3. Reduction in the production of the fishing grounds of Cyprus, as well as of the international waters of the Mediterranean and particularly the fishing grounds of the Eastern Mediterranean. 4. Limited capacity of the fishing fleet, because of the age and the insufficient modern equipment of a large part of it. 5. Low educative level of fishermen and their insufficient professional training with new fishing and navigation methods. 6. Competition in the fishery by the amateur fishermen. 7. Absence of necessary installations/facilities for mooring and infrastructures essential for the hygienic unloading of fish catches. 8. Preference of consumers in certain species of fish and the difficulty to accept new species
Means of achieving the objectives of Sector of Fisheries Resources The strategic objectives of the sector of fisheries resources are rendered feasible with the realisation of the following activities:
Carrying out research programs and systematic collection of biological and statistical data, evaluation, assessment and estimation of the situation concerning the fishery stocks and particularly those stocks caught in larger quantities or/and present the highest economic value, such as the mullets (Mullus surmuletus, M. barbatus), the picarel (Spicara smaris), and the boque (Boops boops). Monitoring of the European Community Institutional frame and legislation, establish and application of new regulations concerning professional and amateur fishery and their incorporation into Government legislation. Configuration and implementation of multiannual programs of support for fisheries in collaboration with the European Union (Single Programming Document for Fisheries 2004-2006, European Fishery Fund 2007-2013)
Upgrading of the fisheries sector with measures aiming: the improvement (upgrade and modernisation) professional fisheries fleet introduction of new fishing methods
of
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The support of the fishery community and the competitiveness of the catch sector with the following measures: the preservation of the existing and the creation of new jobs the organisation of the fishermen and their labour environment the achievement of economically viable conditions of professional activity the education of fishermen and their training in subjects that concern the Common Fishery Policy The improvement and promotion of domestic fresh fish products with a series of measures that aim: the labelling of product origin the improvement of the marketing and hygiene conditions the improved organisation of producers the commercial rise of species, that do not poses a satisfactory market picture.