Fishing Banned for Two Years at Mavrokolympos Reservoir in Paphos

Fishing has been banned for two years at the Mavrokolympos Dam reservoir in Paphos, which has significantly dried up. Once the water levels are restored, the Department of Fisheries will take steps to replenish the fish population.

The fishing ban, issued by the Department of Fisheries and Marine Research, will remain in effect for two years.

In mid-January, a massive water leak occurred at the Mavrokolympos reservoir, which the head of the district administration described as a "catastrophic" situation. Before the leak, the dam was over 60% full, holding approximately 1.5 million cubic meters of water.

According to the Water Development Department, the leak was caused by a failure in the dam’s outlet tunnel. Repairing the damage is expected to be extremely challenging due to the tunnel’s inaccessible location.

As a result, authorities decided to drain the reservoir completely. Marina Argirou, the department’s director, explained on Alpha Update that once the dam was emptied, thick silt remained at the bottom, making it impossible to retrieve the fish without putting human lives at risk.

After repairs are completed and the reservoir is refilled, the Department of Fisheries will work to restore the fish population, allowing recreational fishing to resume.