Country information
Basic facts on marine waters
- Territorial sea (12 nm zone): 13 679 km²
- Exclusive Economic Zone: 98 240 km²
Strategic documents related to MSP
- National Policy Statement for Maritime Spatial Planning
- National Strategy for Integrated Maritime Policy
- Development of the National ICZM Strategy and relevant Action Plan
- Development of the National Policy Statement for MSP
- Establishment of ICZM Interministerial Committee
- Establishment of MSP Interministerial Committee and MSP Committee
Technical resources related to MSP
- N/A
Relevant MSP projects
- Cross-border cooperation for the development of Maritime Spatial Planning – THAL-CHOR (March 2014-December 2015)
- Cross-border cooperation for the implementation of Maritime Spatial Planning – THAL-CHOR 2 (September 2018-August 2021)
- Cross-border cooperation for the implementation of Maritime Spatial Planning – THAL-CHOR 2 (September2018-Feb 2023)
Overview of MSP related maritime uses
Current main uses:
| Desalination | Shipping |
| Ports | Nature conservation |
| Fisheries | Aquaculture |
| Military | Scientific research |
| Coastal protection | Ammunition storage sites |
| Cables and pipelines | Tourism and leisure |
| Underwater cultural heritage |
Which marine spatial plans exist?
Name of the plan (year) |
Plan name to be defined |
|---|---|
Scale of the plan |
National |
Pre-planning |
Status: Complete |
Assessments for planning |
Status: Complete |
Plan development |
Status: Complete |
Plan completion |
Status: Complete |
Plan approval |
Status: Underway |
Plan implementation |
Status: N/A |
Plan review |
Status: N/A |
National authority in charge of MSP |
Shipping Deputy Ministry |
Governmental funding |
N/A |
External funding |
N/A |
Public-private funding |
N/A |
Size of planning area |
Marine waters of the Republic (territorial sea and EEZ) ,approximately 112 000 km2 |
Time required to complete the planning document |
12 months |
Main issued that led to the adoption of MSP (drivers) |
Sustainable growth of the Republic’s maritime economy, sustainable growth in its marine waters and sustainable use of its marine resources |
Stakeholder engagement activities |
The Council of Ministers, by virtue of Regulations issued pursuant to Law 144(I)/2017, establishes means of public participation and consultation with all relevant stakeholders, authorities and the public concerned, at an early stage in the development and revision of the Maritime Spatial Plan |
Sectors included in planning |
All marine and maritime sectors |
Articulation between MSP and coastal zone management |
The outcome of coastal management shall be taken into account in the Maritime Spatial Plan by the competent institutions |
Articulation between MSP and marine protected areas |
Conservation needs and trends and compliance with existing protected areas are considered |
Articulation between MSP and sustainable blue economy |
N/A |
Plan approval process |
The Plan will be approved by the Council of Ministers |
Legal status of the plan (guiding or legally binding) |
Legally binding; the Plan will be set up pursuant to the relevant provisions of Law 144(I)/2017 |
Plan review process |
The Maritime Spatial Plan is to be revised as the Council of Ministers may decide from time to time, at least every ten years |
Performance monitoring and evaluation |
The Council of Ministers may make Regulations, published in the Official Gazette of the Republic, for the better implementation of the provisions of Law 144(I)/2017, including for the monitoring and evaluation of marine waters |
Legal framework
The MSP Bill transposing the Directive 2014/89/EU was approved by the House of Representatives of Cyprus on 29 September 2017 and published in the Official Gazette of the Republic on 13 October 2017 as Law 114(I)/2017.
The Maritime Spatial Planning and Other Related Matters Laws of 2017-2021 (Law 144(I)/2017 as amended by Law 34(I)/2021)
Contact
Mr. Kyriacos Aliouris-Marine Surveyor A’
Mr. Nicolas Ioannou- Maritime Affairs Officer