The fishing profession has been experiencing a decline in recent years, leading to a shrinking industry, with many fishermen leaving the trade.
Of particular concern is the fact that young people are not pursuing careers in fishing.
Addressing this situation, Valentinos Fakontis, the AKEL MP for Paphos, highlights the problems faced by fishing shelters and related infrastructure, the reduction of fish stocks, the prohibition of fishing in specific areas, and the lack of incentives to attract new fishermen to the profession.
These issues signal an ominous future for fishing in the region.
Specifically addressing the challenges faced by professional fishermen in Paphos, Fakontis emphasizes the need to expand the entrance channel in the Kato Paphos harbour to prevent wave disturbance within the harbour basin.
Additionally, he calls for unobstructed access for fishermen to the terrestrial area of the port.
The port area is the workspace for professional fishermen, and Fakontis observes that after the installation of a barrier by the Paphos Municipality and the Ports Authority, fishermen’s unhindered access to the Kato Paphos harbour has been restricted.
This has resulted in significant inconvenience for them as they are forced to park their vehicles far away and carry necessary equipment by hand.
Fakontis insists that the problems must be addressed, and fishing policies centred around the fishermen should be implemented to change the current challenging situation.
He also calls for the continuation of the fuel subsidy plan implemented in the last two years, which provided relief to professional fishermen on the brink of sustainability.
Furthermore, the Ministry should evaluate the income loss due to fishing bans imposed for environmental and other reasons and compensate the fishermen, he concludes.
