Audit Office calls for revised study on Pentakomo development to protect seals
The Audit Office has requested a revised site allocation study for proposed marine farm facilities in the Moni-Vassiliko area due to the area’s significance for the Mediterranean monk seal. Plans to develop aquaculture facilities in the environmentally sensitive area are facing scrutiny, with a project tender issued for €34 million. The Audit Office recommends updating the National Action Plan for Monk Seal Conservation and ensuring public access to relevant assessments. Delays in project implementation could risk losing funding. The Audit Office criticizes the lack of detail in alternative locations considered in a previous study and recommends a revised study to address the gap. The Department of Environment’s pre-screening report for the Environmental Impact Assessment is criticized for not adequately considering the importance of the area for the Mediterranean monk seal. The proposed project aims to serve seven of the nine existing marine aquaculture farms in Cyprus, providing necessary support infrastructure.
