Limassol boat owners protest delays in improving facilities (updated)

Members of the Limassol Recreational Fishing Boat Owners Association (Siseal) held a protest on Sunday calling for improvements in access to the port.

Towing the boats with their cars, dozens of protesters marched along the coastal road and then gathered in the area of the old port.

Fishermen spoke of a “mockery” that has been going on for about six years. They called for the immediate repair of the ramp next to the Crowne Plaza hotel and the creation of additional ones for boats in Limassol.

President of the association Panicos Panagiotou Pikkis said different officials bunce the problem around between them with the result that nothing gets done.

“We ask for an end to this mockery, we ask for answers. We ask for Limassol, the city with the largest coastal front, to have ramps,” he said.

He pointed out that in Limassol there are two and a half thousand people involved in recreational fishing who spend around €1,000 every year on boat on licences. He said is nothing is done further protests will not be peaceful.

But the municipality called the demonstration “pointless” as plans have been drawn up for a second ramp on the south west side of the port, which has been submitted to the Ports Authority.

“Neither the safety nor the viability of any of our fellow citizens, professionals is under negotiation,” the municipality said.

The municipality said that more than 10 years ago it suggested the construction of a ramp to serve recreational fishing and pleasure boats, between its own municipality and that of Ayios Athanasios.

A study has since been submitted to the department of the environment, which reportedly received it positively.

Since then the municipality has carried out regular maintenance and included in its budget to build a small dock at the site to make the ramp more functional.

The municipality recognises the need for an additional ramp and since there is no other available space on its coastline it has called on the Ports Authority to construct a second boat launch ramp on the southwest side of the port.