Country information
Basic facts on marine waters
- Territorial sea (12 nm zone): 13,679 km²
- Exclusive Economic Zone: 98,240 km²
National practices
- National Policy Statement for Maritime Spatial Planning
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 |
N/A |
|---|---|
Scale of the plan |
National |
Pre-planning |
Status: Complete |
Analysis for planning |
Status: Underway |
Development of the management plan |
Status: Underway |
Completion of the management plan |
Status: Underway |
Approval of the management plan |
Status: N/A |
Implementation of the management plan |
Status: N/A |
Revision of the management plan |
Status: N/A |
National authority in charge of MSP |
Shipping Deputy Ministry |
Financing |
Shipping Deputy Ministry |
Time required to complete the plans |
Until 31 March 2021 |
Drivers of MSP |
Sustainable growth of the Republic’s maritime economy, sustainable growth in its marine waters and sustainable use of its marine resources |
Stakeholder participation |
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 |
Relation to coastal management |
The outcome of coastal management shall be taken into account in the Maritime Spatial Plan by the competent institutions |
Relation to marine protected area management |
Conservation needs and trends and compliance with existing protected areas are considered |
Plan approval |
The Plan will be approved by the Council of Ministers |
Legal status of the plan |
Legally binding; the Plan will be set up pursuant to the relevant provisions of Law 144(I)/2017 |
Plan revision |
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.
Other relevant national or sub-national initiatives linked to the development of Cyprus’ Maritime Spatial Plan include:
- National Strategy for Integrated Maritime Policy
- Establishment of MSP Interministerial Committee and MSP Committee
- Establishment of ICZM Interministerial Committee
- Development of the National Policy Statement for MSP
- Development of the National ICZM Strategy and relevant Action Plan
Contact
Mr. Kyriacos Aliouris
Mr. Nicolas Ioannou
Kyllinis Street, Mesa Geitonia,
4007 Lemesos, Cyprus