Find Fisheries expertise in Cyprus

Fisheries, collectively with agriculture and forestry contribute 2% to the GDP of Cyprus (2008). With a coastline of about 648 km, and a shelf area of 2960 km2, the sector is an important pillar of the economy of several coastal areas, and is comprised of a marine sub-sector and an aqua-cultural sub-sector, though aquaculture is primarily marine based. Approximately 1400 individuals are directly occupied in the fisheries sector as fisherman, aqua culturists or in the processing sub sector (2005). In addition, approximately another 1000 individuals are indirectly engaged in the fisheries sector.

Two thirds (66%) of fishery production is from aquaculture, followed by inshore fisheries (19%), polyvalent fishing boats, which are equipped to use several different fishing methods, (4%) and the trawl fishery (4%).

In terms of value, aquaculture is also by far the largest sub-sector as, like most of the Eastern Mediterranean, the fishing grounds have been almost fully exploited. As a result, aquaculture contributes around three quarters of the total value from fisheries. The catch profile includes picarel (which is the dominant catch), surmullet, the common cuttlefish, red mullet and the Atlantic Bluefin. Rainbow trout is the only commercially farmed freshwater fish, while sea bream, sea bass and Bluefin tuna are the most important marine fish that are farmed.

The majority of the catch (70%) is consumed locally, and Cyprus is a net importer of fish. Governmental policy is designed to achieve the sustainable and balanced management of resources, the increased contribution of fisheries in the domestic production of fish and the improvement of professional fishermen’s work conditions.

Fisheries organisations in Cyprus
Department of Fisheries and Marine Research
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