Cyprus government unveils marine pollution action plan

At the Blue Limassol Forum held last Friday, Acting Permanent Secretary of the Deputy Ministry of Shipping Dr. Theodoulos Mesimeris announced a new marine pollution action plan for the Republic of Cyprus. The plan includes seven short-term measures to be implemented before the upcoming summer, alongside a series of medium-term initiatives with an 18-month implementation timeline. The strategy was developed by the Committee for the Prevention and Management of Marine Pollution, which was established by the Council of Ministers in January 2024 following an initiative by Deputy Minister of Shipping Marina Hadjimanolis. In February 2025, the Council of Ministers further approved the creation of a Pollution Management Supervision and Coordination Group (OESAR). This body, expected to be staffed by 2026, is tasked with improving legislative application, developing digital monitoring tools, and coordinating between public and academic stakeholders. A dedicated digital platform for these efforts is currently under development as part of the EMMERA project.