The fishing industry in Cyprus has many problems. It is an old tradition for families. Now, it is in a difficult situation. Environmental damage and bad infrastructure hurt fishermen. This is especially true in Kato Paphos harbour. The fishing business and fish numbers are going down.
Fishermen have told people about their worries for a long time. However, help has not arrived. The main issue is fewer fish. This happens because of too much fishing, pollution, and illegal fishing. The old harbour facilities are also in bad shape. Some fish that were common are now rare. This shows the sea is not healthy.
Working is also very hard. In Kato Paphos, time limits for harbour use are a big problem. Fishermen say these rules stop them from working well. They lose important fishing time. This means less fish to sell and less money. There is also not enough parking for their things and boats. They also need a place for their association to meet.
Fishing leaders have given ideas to the government. They want to make the harbour entrance better for boats. They also want a place to sell fresh fish directly to people. This would help fishermen earn more money. It would also give people fresh seafood. This could make the local food system better.
The future looks bad if nothing changes. The old way of fishing in Cyprus might disappear. This would be sad for the towns. It would also be a loss for culture. The sea is important to Cyprus. Some fish might disappear forever. Therefore, the government must listen and help. They need to find real answers to save fishing for the future.