Explore Cyprus with Our Interactive Map

Featured Articles

Explore our top stories and discover ideas worth your time.

View all articles
Atlantic Bluefin Tuna in the Eastern Mediterranean

Atlantic Bluefin Tuna in the Eastern Mediterranean

Far out beyond the rocky shores of Cyprus, something immense and powerful moves through the open sea. It is rarely seen, yet deeply present in the ecological story of the island. The Atlantic bluefin tuna is one of the ocean’s true giants – a fast, intelligent hunter that turns Cyprus’s offshore waters into a seasonal highway of life and motion. Meeting the Bluefin Tuna The Atlantic bluefin tuna – Atlantic bluefin tuna – is one of the largest bony fish in the world. It belongs to the tuna and mackerel family, a group of oceanic predators built for speed and endurance. Unlike coastal fish that stay near reefs or the seabed, bluefin tuna are pelagic wanderers. They live in the open ocean, constantly moving across entire seas and even between oceans, following currents, temperature gradients, and the invisible rhythm of prey. In the waters around Cyprus, they appear like seasonal visitors rather than permanent residents. A Life Written in Migration Bluefin tuna have been part of the Mediterranean story for millions of years. Fossil relatives show that their lineage evolved into highly efficient long-distance swimmers, capable of crossing thousands of kilometres. In the broader Mediterranean – including the waters south and east of Cyprus – bluefin tuna follow a predictable ancient cycle: Feeding in rich northern waters of the Atlantic…

Read more
Marine Conservation Programs

Marine Conservation Programs

Cyprus sits at the crossroads of the eastern Mediterranean Sea where diverse marine species converge. The island's coastal waters support endangered sea turtles, rare monk seals, extensive seagrass meadows, and dozens of shark and ray species. Marine conservation programs work to protect these ecosystems through scientific research, policy reform, and community engagement. These initiatives span both the government-controlled south and the Turkish-occupied north, with multiple organizations collaborating to safeguard Cyprus's marine biodiversity. A History of Marine Protection Efforts Sea turtle conservation in Cyprus began in 1971 when the government enacted legal protection for turtles and their eggs under the Fisheries Law. A comprehensive survey in 1976 and 1977 identified critical nesting beaches, particularly for green turtles in the Lara area on the west coast. The Cyprus Wildlife Society joined the effort in 1989, and by 1992, the Marine Turtle Conservation Project launched in the Turkish-occupied part of Cyprus through collaboration between the Society for the Protection of Turtles and the University of Exeter. Marine Protected Areas emerged later as conservation priorities evolved. Since 2009, five coastal MPAs have been established in the Turkish-occupied part of Cyprus, covering approximately 134 kilometers of coastline and 17,596 hectares of marine environment. A 30-year trawling ban in the north created a de facto large marine protected area, allowing ,habitats to recover compared to regions…

Read more
Black Locust Robinia In Cyprus

Black Locust Robinia In Cyprus

Imagine walking through an older Cypriot village or along a rural roadside in late May, when the air suddenly fills with a sweet, heavy perfume reminiscent of orange blossom. Looking up, you see long, drooping clusters of creamy-white flowers hanging like fragrant tassels from the branches of a graceful, thorny tree. This is the black locust of Cyprus – a fast-growing, nitrogen-fixing beauty that has quietly become part of the island’s living heritage. The False Acacia of the Legume Family Black locust, Robinia pseudoacacia, belongs to the vast Fabaceae (legume) family – the same group as carob, peas and beans. It is a deciduous tree famous for its ability to enrich poor soils by fixing nitrogen from the air. Locally it is known as Ροπίνια η ψευδοακακία (Ropínia i pseudoakakía), literally “false acacia Robinia”, because its pinnate leaves and pea-like flowers resemble true acacias even though it is not closely related. From American Forests to Cypriot Roadsides Native to the Appalachian Mountains and Ozarks of the eastern United States, black locust was one of the first North-American trees brought to Europe in the early 17th century. It reached Cyprus during the British period (late 19th–early 20th century) and was widely planted for durable timber, excellent honey production, erosion control on degraded land, and quick shade in villages and towns. Like…

Read more