Guides

A Joint Call to Action for Cyprus’ Small-Scale Fisheries

Small-scale fisheries are the heartbeat of Cyprus’ coastal communities. They support local economies, safeguard food security, and preserve a rich cultural identity that has shaped our island for generations. Yet despite their vital importance, small-scale fishers...

Handbook of best practices to minimise impacts of human activities on marine mammals and sea turtles in the Mediterranean Sea

The Mediterranean Sea is a unique and priceless treasure. Among its most remarkable residents are marine mammals such as dolphins, whales and the endangered Mediterranean monk seal and three species of sea turtles. These animals are vital for the health of the sea as...

POLICY BRIEF / The ‘silent’ problem of fisheries: A call to address one of the biggest fisheries-driven environmental threats

Overfishing and bycatch are among the greatest threats to marine biodiversity loss and have been the principal drivers of decline and local extinction of marine vulnerable species. Following a standardized data collection protocol developed by GFCM, we conducted...

MEDITERRANEAN ANGEL SHARKS: SUBREGIONAL ACTION PLAN (SUBRAP)

The Mediterranean is a risky place to be a shark. At least 50% of rays and 54% of sharks in this region face an elevated risk of extinction, including the three species of angel sharks. While measures do exist for the management of these species under the General...

Good Practice Guides for the Handling of Vulnerable Species Caught Incidentally in Mediterranean Fisheries

The following safe handling and release guides of vulnerable species that were developed by the Secretariat of the Agreement on the Conservation of Cetaceans of the Black Sea, Mediterranean Sea and Contiguous Atlantic Area (ACCOBAMS) and the Secretariat of the General...

Elasmobranch Field Identification Guide

This field identification guide was developed under the framework of the Cyprus Bycatch Project (phase II) and it shows some of the most common elasmobranch species that are often bycaught and interact with fisheries.

Commercial Fisheries Elasmobranch Advisories

Under the framework of the CERECON project, Enalia Physis Environmental Research Centre and SPOT, in collaboration with the Shark Trust have developed Commercial Fisheries Advisories for professional fishermen operating within the Republic of Cyprus. These are...

Vulnerable Species Field Identification Guide

This field identification guide was developed under the framework of the Cyprus Bycatch Project (phase I) and it shows some of the most common vulnerable species including elasmobranchs, turtles, cetaceans and seabirds that are often bycaught and interact with...

Cyprus Bycatch Project phase I – Technical Report

This technical report summarises the results of the Cyprus Bycatch Project (phase I). The report shows the results of the incidental captures of vulnerable species including elasmobranchs, turtles, cetaceans, seabirds and benthic organisms (e.g. corals, sponges), that...