Protaras Coast Littered with Plastic, Fishing Gear

The seas around Protaras are littered with discarded plastic, tyres and fishing gear, says a statement from the non-profit organisation Nireas Marine Research.

The group has released a number of photographs of underwater trash taken while on a diving expedition in the area.

Protaras is a major tourist attraction during summer months, with many hundreds of swimmers and divers. The trash poses dangers to divers who could become entangled in the abandoned nets floating on the seabed.

It is the second time in as many months that Nireas has reported a serious breach of safety. In October, the researchers photographed a fishing boat setting nets inside a marked swimmers area in Limassol.

Such a marked lack of respect towards the sea and swimmers should get the attention of authorities. If the marine environment cannot be respected, how can the government hope to responsibly develop an undersea hydrocarbons industry? How can the public hope to trust that the government has the environment as its first consideration?

This underwater pollution is at the simplest level; tyres, fishing gear, discarded boxes or plastics. Imagine if there were an oil leak at a future oil drilling platform. Can the public trust that the government has these things in hand?

Nireas has sent an alert to the Department of Fisheries and Marine Environment. Let's see if they take any effective action to counteract this disgraceful and dangerous pollution.

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