The construction of artificial reefs in the marine protected areas of Geroskipou, Larnaca and “Dasoudi” of Limassol and Paralimni and Ayia Napa was announced, with a total budget for the three projects of 2.6 million euros. According to an announcement by the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works, the contracts are expected to be signed next May and their execution period is 12 months.
The announcement of the competition was greeted by the mayor of Geroskipou Kyriakos Hadjivasilis, while also thanking the DISY MP Charalambos Pazaros for the interest he showed and his help. The project concerns the marine protected area of Geroskipou 5,900,000 sq.m., between the facilities of the CTO beach in Geroskipou and the channel of Paphos International Airport at the mouth of the river Ezousa. Part of the structures is placed at a short distance and around the sunken Laboe boat and east and west from the edge of the boat at distances of about 10-40 meters. It envisages the creation of a new mooring point for the boats that will visit the area. The project is co-financed by the Operational Program “Sea 2014-2020” of the European Union and the Republic of Cyprus, and its cost is estimated at 546,000 euros, including VAT.
For the marine protected areas of Larnaca and “Dasoudi” of Limassol, the project concerns the construction of an artificial reef in the marine protected area of Larnaca located in the area of Oroklini and occupies 2,200,000 sq.m., with boundaries 1,200 meters west of the British Bases , with the southern end being about 2,600 meters from the shore. Part of the constructions is placed in close proximity and around the boat “Elpida” and the boat “LEF1”, and provides for the creation of three mooring points for the boats that will visit the reef area.
Limassol & # 8211; Larnaca
Regarding the “Forest” of Limassol, the construction of an artificial reef with an area of 1,450,000 sq.m. between the Crowne Plaza Hotel in the west with an extension of 1,000 meters to the east, before the facilities of the restaurant of the Cyprus Tourism Organization in the area “Dasoudi”. Part of the construction is located close to and around the sunken boat “Lady Thetis”, and includes the creation of a mooring point for boats that will visit the reef area. The project is co-financed by the Operational Program “Sea 2014-2020” of the European Union and the Republic of Cyprus and is estimated at € 1.23 million, including VAT. For the marine protected areas of Paralimni and Ayia Napa, the construction of an artificial reef occupying 630,000 sq.m. is envisaged for the area of Paralimni, with limits of 500 meters north of the existing fishing shelter of Paralimni.
Part of the constructions is placed nearby distance and perimeter of the sunken vessels “NEMESIS III” and “LIBERTY”, and provides for the creation of an anchorage point for the vessels that will visit the reef area. In the area of Ayia Napa, construction of an artificial reef is foreseen, which occupies 1,850,000 sq.m., with limits of 1,700 meters west of the existing fishing shelter of Ayia Napa and part of the constructions nearby and around the sunken boat “KYRENIA”.
