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- Ελληνικά
Ways for more effective prevention of marine pollution, with the coordinated action of all relevant services, were put on the agenda by the Deputy Minister of Shipping, Mrs Marina Hadjimanoli, the Mayor of Limassol, Mr. Nikos Nicolaides and the representatives of the authorities involved, at a meeting held on Tuesday, August 1, 2023, at the Deputy Ministry of Shipping.
Ms. Hadjimanoli referred to the critical importance of this meeting with all state agencies involved, which aimed to intensify and coordinate efforts to prevent marine pollution. "Today, recommendations have been made which we will then evaluate. This will be followed by another meeting on 6 September 2023 with other stakeholders so that we can arrive at the desired outcome, which is above all to protect the sea. We believe that surveillance is the main tool so that we can get to the person or persons who are really causing the problem and address it."
Regarding the penalties that apply in cases of non-compliance with marine pollution legislation, Ms. Hadjimanoli said: "Since we took over we have started to evaluate all the legislation that is under the Ministry of Maritime Affairs. And in this case, if any amendment needs to be made so as to increase the penalties, we will not hesitate to do so if it will help solve the problem of marine pollution."
Mr. Nicolaides, for his part, welcomed the initiative of the Deputy Minister to convene the meeting in order to coordinate the actions to be undertaken by each department according to its responsibilities and stressed the great importance of the best possible monitoring of potential sources of pollution, so that any problems that arise can be dealt with effectively in the first place.
Also present at the meeting, on behalf of the Deputy Ministry of Shipping, were the Director General Mr. Stelios Chimonas and the Head of the Coastal Monitoring and Pollution Control Centre Mr. Mr. Themis Evriviades, the Head of the Maritime Service of the Fisheries Department Mr. Marinos Ioannou, on behalf of the Air Operations Unit Mr. Antonis Metaxas, the Head of the Pollution Unit of the Port Police Mr. Andreas Hadjiyannou and the Deputy Head of Health Services of the Limassol Municipality Mr. Fanos Panagios.
The attendees jointly expressed their determination to intensify controls for the detection of possible pollution at the sources, through the coordinated action of all authorities.
The response to marine pollution has always been high on the priorities of the Limassol Municipality, which is the last shield of bathers against pollution, providing three boats for the daily surveillance of the city's coastline from the New Port to the Parklane Hotel. The Municipality also has a 24-hour hotline for reporting and recording issues related to marine pollution, at 25884590.
(AF/SX)
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