BlueMove and the Enalia Physis Environmental Research Centre supported six fishers in equipping themselves to reduce depredation and bycatch.
On Wednesday 24, September 2025, at the occasion of the Green Shipping Industry Day in Brussels, Tethys and BlueSeeds presented the PelThe year 2025 has seen the launch of BlueMove in Cyprus, delivered in partnership with Enalia Physis Environmental Research Center. Working with small-scale fishers across Ayia Napa, Larnaca, Latsi, Limassol, Paphos and Zygi, the project helps remove financial and administrative barriers to adopt climate-resilient, low-impact gear and equipment, and to access EMFAF (European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund) support.
Project actions include:
- Workshops with fishers
- Hands-on technical assistance for EMFAF applications (forms, quotes, eligibility, claims).
- Communication with the Department of Fisheries and Marine Research to clarify rules and eligible investments.
- Prefinancing solutions piloted with local partners and banks so fishers can purchase approved equipment without upfront cash.
- Procurement support and training around dolphin deterrent devices (DDD) to reduce depredation and bycatch.
Due to current banking constraints on pre-financing and the narrow eligibility of gear under the active EMFAF call, 6 fishers obtained support for DDD acquisition only. Those who requested prefinancing received a reimbursable grant directly from BlueMove.
Over 2025–2026, if other EMFAF calls are published, the partnership aims to support up to 25 fishers in Cyprus to adopt eligible, selective technologies and improve cash-flow reliability, while sharing lessons with the wider Together for the Med community for replication across the region.