Cyprus’s fishing industry is facing a crisis that threatens not only today’s catch but the very survival of the profession. Landings are steadily declining, costs are rising and fishers feel abandoned. These findings are starkly documented in a recent Oceana study based on field interviews with 47 professional fishers across six harbours on the island.
Some 72 percent of respondents identified shrinking stocks as the biggest challenge. Traditional commercial species are disappearing, and fishers attribute this to long-term fishing pressure and inadequate protection of spawning grounds. As they put it: “catches are dropping because reproduction is not being protected.”
Dissatisfaction with government measures is nearly universal at 96 percent. Fishers point to lax enforcement, a failure to apply existing rules and a lack of meaningful support. Yet they do not oppose conservation measures — quite the opposite. Ninety-four percent back restrictions on fishing gear in sensitive habitats, and 98 percent believe better habitat protection can rebuild stocks over time.
On environmental pressures, 68 percent cited climate change and invasive species as decisive factors. Rising water temperatures are facilitating the spread of alien species, while pollution is making things worse according to 43 percent of those surveyed.
The ageing of the sector is another dead end. Sixty-four percent of fishers are aged 55 or over, while just 2 percent are in the 25–34 age bracket. Seven in ten express concern about whether the profession will survive. Meanwhile, economic pressures from fuel, nets, VAT and red tape are cutting into the number of working days.
The study concludes with clear recommendations: enforce existing rules, work with the fishers themselves, restore stocks and reduce bureaucracy. Without real change, Cyprus’s fishing industry risks extinction.
