Cyprus government proposes increase in hunting licence fees

The Cyprus Ministry of Interior has introduced a bill to increase hunting licence fees for the first time since 2005. Under the proposed legislation, the standard annual fee for hunters aged 18 to 65 would rise from €77 to €120, while the fee for those aged 65 to 80 would increase from €43 to €65. Hunters over the age of 80 remain exempt from fees. The bill also introduces a mechanism for an automatic 5% adjustment every four years. The Game and Fauna Service stated the increase is necessary to cover rising operational, maintenance, and fuel costs. The opposition party AKEL has criticized the move as unjustified and called for the bill's withdrawal. The proposal is currently undergoing public consultation, and authorities clarified that no final decision has been made, as the bill must still be debated and approved by the House of Representatives.