Cypriot small-scale fishermen demand a ten-year national plan

Cypriot small-scale fishermen, supported by organizations including the Enalia Physis Environmental Research Centre, AP Marine, and Oceana, have requested the development of a ten-year national action plan to address the industry's near-collapse. The appeal was made during a meeting with European Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans, Costas Kadis, on August 28, 2026.

Industry representatives are urging the government to implement the EU’s Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) more strictly to recover depleted fish stocks. Key demands include granting small-scale, low-impact fishers priority access to coastal waters and traditional fishing grounds. Additionally, the groups are calling for improved monitoring of both professional and recreational fishing to combat illegal and unreported activity, alongside measures to facilitate the sale of catches and provide better access to funding to ensure stable incomes.

Christodoulos Charalambous, president of the fishermen’s association, noted that small-scale operators face extreme pressure at sea, with declining stocks threatening their livelihoods. The proposed plan aims to secure sustainable economic prospects for coastal communities and encourage new entrants into the fishing sector while giving workers a greater voice in industry-related decision-making processes.