In Cyprus, and specifically the Department of Fisheries and Marine Research (DFA) of the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, was awarded, together with ten other Mediterranean countries that have established SPAMI (Specially Protected Areas of Mediterranean Importance), the official SPAMI Certificate, which certifies that the SPAMI sites belong to the list of SPAMI sites of Mediterranean importance.
The awarding of the Certificates took place on 20 May 2022, at the Oceanographic Museum of Monaco at a special event for the 1st edition of the International SPAMI Day,organized by the SPA/RAC (Regional Activity Centre for Specially Protected Areas) UNEP/MAP under the Barcelona Convention and under the patronage of Prince Albert II of Monaco, who attended the high-level part of the event and welcomed the 1st Edition of the International SPAMI Day: Together for the Protection of Mediterranean Biodiversity.
The Director of TATHE Ms Marina Argyrou participated in the event and received the official SPAMI Certificate for the Lara - Toxeftra protected area. The Lara - Toxeftra protected area was approved in 2013 for inclusion in the SPAMI List by all Contracting Parties to the Barcelona Convention and in 2021 it was successfully assessed during the first six-year review. The Lara-Toxeftra protected area is an important nesting area for two iconic Mediterranean protected species, the green turtle (Cheloniamydas) and the caretta (Carettacaretta) and contributes significantly to the conservation of these two species at Mediterranean level.
The TATH expresses its deep gratitude to the initiators of the Sea Turtle Conservation and Monitoring Programme, Mr. Andreas Dimitropoulos, first Director and founder of the Fisheries Department and Mrs. Myroula Chatzichristophorou, who laid the foundations and contributed substantially to the successful protection and conservation of the two species of sea turtles and established the Lara - Toxeftra area as a protected area in 1989 under the Fisheries Law and Regulations.
SPAMI List
The SPAMI List was created in November 2001, in Monaco, by the Contracting Parties to the Barcelona Convention under the Protocol on Specially Protected Areas and Biological Diversity in the Mediterranean, where the unique international SPAMI (Pelagos Sanctuary), established by France, Italy and Monaco, had been established.
Today, the List includes 39 SPAMIs from 11 Mediterranean countries, out of 1,233 Marine Protected Areas and other effective conservation measures based on sites located in the Mediterranean. To be included in the SPAMI List, candidate marine and coastal protected areas must demonstrate a set of ecological, scientific, aesthetic, cultural or educational characteristics of interest as part of formal submissions from interested Contracting Parties. Once approved and included on the List, SPAMIs are monitored as part of rigorous periodic reviews that take place every six years.
SPAMIs are therefore much more than just a label. SPAMIs are more than promising aspirations for the Mediterranean, for the protection and conservation of Mediterranean biodiversity.
The establishment of SPAMI Day and the SPAMI Certificate have been adopted by the Parties to the Barcelona Convention at COP 22, held in Antalya, Turkey on 7-10 December 2021.
SPAMI Day is a day to celebrate SPAMI and to expand and strengthen conservation efforts in the Mediterranean Sea.[/I]
(BG/EXP)
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