Since 2009, MER has delivered long-term environmental monitoring for aquaculture operators in Cyprus, supporting the assessment of water quality, sediment condition and benthic ecological status around marine fish farms.
The work combines repeated water and sediment sampling, nutrient and chlorophyll-a analysis, measurements of sediment organic matter and phosphorus, granulometry and identification of benthic macrofauna. Together, these components provide an evidence base for environmental compliance and the longer-term evaluation of aquaculture effects.
The responsible authority for the sector of aquaculture is the DFMR which aims to the sustainable development of the sector and alignment with the standards and criteria of the EU and of international organizations such as FAO. According to national legislation, fish farms need to be environmentally monitored every six months. The monitoring is carried out based on the guidelines of ‘Revised Monitoring Program’ developed by the DFMR. This document sets the parameters that need to be monitored. Briefly, integrated water is sampled every January and July from the farm site (0 m), 50 m, 200 m, and 500 m downstream as well as at a Control Station. Two replicate samples from each of the five stations are analysed for nutrient concentrations (NH4+, NO2–, NO3–, PO43+) and chl. a. At the same stations, the sediment is sampled with Van Veen grab once a year (every July) and analyzed for the % organic matter, the concentration of Total Organic Phosphorous and size of granules. In addition, macrofauna species are identified (3 replicates from each station) to assess the ecological status.
MER currently carries out the bi-annual monitoring at Seawave Fisheries Ltd (since 2009), Temri Group (since 2023) and Ichthys Eco-Farm Ltd (since 2025). MER was also monitoring Telia Vasiliko Ltd and Telia Aqua Marine Public Ltd (2011-2018), Blue Island PLC (2011-2015) and EMAT Ltd (2011-2014).