3.1 



CYPRUS 



Cyprus is a small country with very limited fishery resources. It has fishing grounds suited only for small 

 fishing vessels. Any vessels over 100-Gross Registered Tons (GRT) are unlikely to be operated by local fishermen, 

 but are reflagged for operations in other areas. Cyprus had a only one reflagged vessel, the tuna purse seiner Isabel 

 Tuna, on its registry in 1991. There were 3 reflagged vessels registered in 1992 and 31 reflagged vessels flying the 

 Cypriot flag in 1993. Cyprus now appears to be a major European center for reflagging. It appears likely that 

 other vessels will reflag in Cyprus in the future. 



CONTENTS 



1. General Background 172 



2. Fleet Background 173 



3. Modernization Programs 173 



4. Decommissioning Programs 173 



5. Shipyards 173 



6. International Agreements 173 



7. Fleet Dispersal Plans 174 



Sources 174 



Endnotes 179 



1. General Background 



Cyprus, a small island about the size of 

 Connecticut, has only limited resources inside its 

 Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). The island's 

 Greek and Turkish populations clashed in 1974, 

 resulting in two de facto autonomous zones: a Greek 

 area controlled by the Cypriot Government (about 65- 

 percent of the island) and a Turkish-Cypriot area (35- 

 percent of the island, which declared itself the 

 Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus on November 

 15, 1983). The conflict uprooted the lives of the 

 island's inhabitants and disrupted fishing patterns. 

 The island has a small fleet of mostly wooden vessels 

 that catch only modest quantities (1,500 to 2,600 

 tons) of fish and shellfish for sale in local markets. 



The arrival of a growing number of tourists has 

 stimulated the demand for fresh fish. Cypriot 

 fishermen landed an estimated 2,690 tons of fish and 

 shellfish in 1992. Cyprus is a major center for 

 maritime vessels that enjoy special regulations and tax 

 incentives for registering under the Cypriot flag. 

 One tuna seiner, the former Spanish-flag Isabel Tuna, 

 began fishing in the Pacific Ocean flying the Cypriot 

 flag in 1991. There were 3 reflagged vessels in 1992 

 and 31 fishing vessels flying the Cypriot flag in 1993. 

 Few of these vessels are expected to fish in Cypriot 

 waters; most have been reflagged and will fish far 

 from Cyprus. 



172 



