Plastic pollution and invasive species are among key issues fishers are facing in Cyprus, EU Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans, Costas Kadis said on Friday.

Kadis was speaking from the community council of Zygi as part of the European tour in coastal areas to discuss issues concerning the broader fishing and aquaculture sector. “The first meeting is symbolically taking place in my homeland, Cyprus, providing an opportunity to hear the views, concerns, and suggestions of those involved in the fishing sector,” Kadis, the former agriculture minister, said.

During his visit, the EU commissioner said the goal is to support the fishing sector to make it competitive, sustainable, and resilient in Europe and Cyprus. He added that his office will maintain direct communication with the agriculture ministry to support fishers.

Accompanying him, Agriculture Minister Maria Panayiotou, met with fishers and aquaculture farmers to hear firsthand about the struggles faced by the industry.

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Kadis further emphasised the importance to have direct communication with fishers. “These are the people in daily contact with the sea, who know the conditions in the sector better than anyone.” He added that it is a moral obligation to listen to them, believing they have valuable contributions that can be utilised.

Regarding Cyprus, the Commissioner noted that, like other Mediterranean countries, it faces specific challenges, including environmental issues, climate change, invasive species altering the marine environment, and pollution. Every day, approximately 700 tons of plastic end up in the Mediterranean, degrading the environment and impacting fishing.

Kadis continued, “We face issues of unfair competition from third countries, all of which are under our scrutiny. There will be direct communication between the Ministry (of Agriculture) and my office to monitor these issues and provide as much support as possible within the framework of European legislation to make the fishing sector in Europe and Cyprus competitive, sustainable, and resilient.” He noted that this is “our broader goal.”

Reflecting on his own experience as Cyprus’s Minister of agriculture, rural development, and environment for five years, Kadis expressed a deep understanding of the challenges faced by local fishers. He described the day as an opportunity “to assess the current situation, identify emerging challenges, and focus on addressing them.”

For her part, Panayiotou expressed her “joy and honour” that the commissioner for fisheries and oceans is starting the European trip with Cyprus. “This gives us particular optimism because small-scale coastal fishing, characteristic of Cyprus’s fishing sector, faces unique challenges, whether related to marine interventions, invasive species, pollution, or the sustainability of the sector itself.”

She noted that hearing directly from those involved in the industry, “has enabled us to develop specific measures and plans addressing their needs.”

The minister specifically mentioned the plan concerning lionfish, with compensation of €4.73, and a recent decision for financial support to address damage caused by dolphins to their nets, with compensation reaching up to €1,900. “All these initiatives arose from their suggestions, and such recommendations are what we seek and adopt in our policies.”

Panayiotou explained that “our policies will only be effective if they come from those implementing them to ensure positive outcomes. Today is a very important day to strengthen our dialogue with our fishers to empower, sustain, and fortify the sector.”

She also expressed satisfaction that “today, we have young fishers with us,” noting that “our focus is on making the industry even more attractive.”

On behalf of fishers, head of the professional fishers associations, Christodoulos Charalambous, thanked Kadis for his consistent support, stating, “We are confident that he will always stand by us. It is significant that he chose Cyprus as the first country to visit in his capacity as EU commissioner for fisheries and oceans to discuss our problems.”

Secretary of the pan-Cyprian aquaculture association, Giannos Economides, said, “It is a great honour to have the Commissioner with us today, visiting Cyprus for the first time on his tour,” wishing him strength and expressing hope “to bring Cyprus closer to Europe.”