Akamas beach party threat to turtles
Posted: Tue Sep 05, 2017 8:46 pm
Environmental department inspectors were on scene at an Akamas beach on Tuesday to investigate how the Paphos district office had granted permission to an individual to host a private party without liaising with the relevant state departments to ensure the protection of turtles.
The party, organised by a guest at the Anassa hotel in Latchi, Polis Chrysochous, is scheduled to take place on Thursday for 150 people, the hotel’s general manager Sebastian Wurst told the Cyprus Mail.
Organising an event at a beach, particularly at a Natura protected area requires the input of the fisheries and environmental departments before a permit by the district office is granted.
This is to ensure turtles, which nest across the beach are unharmed.
According to Agriculture Minister Nicos Kouyialis, neither of the two departments were informed but were now looking into the matter.
“We had to send letters to receive any information. The Paphos district officer has provided it but I believe the fisheries department and environmental departments should have been informed first.”
Asked whether the developments would mean a halt to the event set to take place on Thursday, Kouyialis said environmental department officials were on scene to investigate.
Neo Chorio community leader Andreas Christodoulou, who was involved in the process due to his jurisdiction, said the permit was granted for €500.
“Do you know how much money this party will bring to our country? The way some people are behaving is deterring people from investing in our economy.”
He was referring to concerns from environmentalists that this would put turtles, now in hatching period, at risk.
“There’s not a single nest there,” Christodoulou said.
A video shared on Facebook shows turtles heading to the sea while excavators are heard in the background.
“This is a Russian person that’s going to spend a lot of money to have an event in our country. Why do we want to deter him? Humans and turtles can co-exist.”
“The hotel is just removing the umbrellas they have for the guests and they’ll have their party.”
Anassa’s general manager told the Cyprus Mail the hotel had a permit for sunbeds but as this was a large event, it required a permit which the guest had received.
“Apart from the permits we also care for the turtles. The nests are marked and the contractors are aware of it, I went there myself to check,” Wurst said.
The Paphos district officer was not immediately available for comment.
http://cyprus-mail.com/2017/09/05/akama ... s-turtles/
The party, organised by a guest at the Anassa hotel in Latchi, Polis Chrysochous, is scheduled to take place on Thursday for 150 people, the hotel’s general manager Sebastian Wurst told the Cyprus Mail.
Organising an event at a beach, particularly at a Natura protected area requires the input of the fisheries and environmental departments before a permit by the district office is granted.
This is to ensure turtles, which nest across the beach are unharmed.
According to Agriculture Minister Nicos Kouyialis, neither of the two departments were informed but were now looking into the matter.
“We had to send letters to receive any information. The Paphos district officer has provided it but I believe the fisheries department and environmental departments should have been informed first.”
Asked whether the developments would mean a halt to the event set to take place on Thursday, Kouyialis said environmental department officials were on scene to investigate.
Neo Chorio community leader Andreas Christodoulou, who was involved in the process due to his jurisdiction, said the permit was granted for €500.
“Do you know how much money this party will bring to our country? The way some people are behaving is deterring people from investing in our economy.”
He was referring to concerns from environmentalists that this would put turtles, now in hatching period, at risk.
“There’s not a single nest there,” Christodoulou said.
A video shared on Facebook shows turtles heading to the sea while excavators are heard in the background.
“This is a Russian person that’s going to spend a lot of money to have an event in our country. Why do we want to deter him? Humans and turtles can co-exist.”
“The hotel is just removing the umbrellas they have for the guests and they’ll have their party.”
Anassa’s general manager told the Cyprus Mail the hotel had a permit for sunbeds but as this was a large event, it required a permit which the guest had received.
“Apart from the permits we also care for the turtles. The nests are marked and the contractors are aware of it, I went there myself to check,” Wurst said.
The Paphos district officer was not immediately available for comment.
http://cyprus-mail.com/2017/09/05/akama ... s-turtles/
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