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 Cyprus has only a short history of fish farming, which is described below, but with its development has created a professional Association, the Cyprus Mariculture Association, which provided the information for the short report given here.
To be a fish farmer in Cyprus means facing has 3 major disadvantages, when comparing the situation in other countries in the Mediterranean.
- Feeds and other materials have had to be imported
- Fingerlings and finished products exported to the EU (a major market) have been subject to import taxes of 16%
- Exports have a significant transport cost
In spite of these observations, Cypriot hatcheries and fish farming have been able to develop, primarily because of significant climatic advantages and good support infrastructure (e.g. roads, marine transport…).
Production rose from 56 tons in 1985 (predominantly rainbow trout) to 450 tons in 1995, by which time seabass and seabream were the dominant local products. The forecast for 2001 is for 1,800-2,000 tons of market-size fish. The local market has a current capacity of 1200-1300 tons and the remainder has to be exported.
In 2000,
Cyprus exported 14 million fingerlings to the Greek ongrowing industry, which represents nearly 40% of the shortfall identified. Of this, Sagro Aquaculture provided 3.5 million (10% of the Greek requirement), representing 50% of its production.
The potential exists for raising exports to an even higher level because of the evident preference by Greek fish farmers for the Cypriot fingerlings due to their high quality and competitive price. Current enquiries for 2001-2002 stocking programmes by Greek ongrowing companies indicate that a target of 12 million for fingerling sales will be fulfilled.
Accession to the EU is to be accompanied by a reduction and eventual elimination of the import taxes applied to Cypriot aquaculture exports, a position that will allow increased competitivity within the Single European Market. Dependent on the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy (end-April 2002) and the concomitant position of aquaculture within this Policy, one may presume that EU assistance may be accorded to Cypriot aquaculture under the conditions of the Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance. Effectively; Cypriot aquaculture should find itself on the same footing as other EU countries and better placed for future development.
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