No approval was granted by the Department of Fisheries & Marine Research (DFMR) or the Department of Environment (DoE) for the placement of a stage and the holding of an event within the Natura 2000 area of the Akamas Peninsula, near the protected green turtle nesting beach at Toxeftra. The announcement came in response to reports and complaints from the NGO Terra Cypria about a stage with spotlights and speakers set up at a restaurant in Agios Georgios Peyias, for an event planned by the Akamas Municipality on 23 August.
Authorities were informed by Terra Cypria and the Auditor General that the event could have serious effects on turtle nesting, including disorienting hatchlings. A site inspection was carried out on 21 August, followed by a letter to the municipality asking for the works to stop. As the preparations continued without a response, officials instructed the use of protective coverings to reduce lighting towards the beach.
The Akamas Municipality installed the coverings, which were inspected on 23 August. A DFMR inspector confirmed during a night visit that the lighting was not intense and the measures had limited light spread toward the sea. A further inspection the next day found no disturbance to turtle nests. The Department of Environment will convene a meeting within 24 hours to decide on next steps and address issues of non-compliance.
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