A conference on artificial reef management will take place during this year’s Zenobia Week in Larnaca which kicks off on June 23, the Larnaca Tourism Board said on Tuesday. The conference will be address by Larnaca Mayor Andreas Louroudjiatis, CTO Chairman Angelos Loizou and Larnaca Tourism Board Chairman Dinos Lefkaritis among others.
Topics include ‘Challenges and perspectives in the coming decades’ a lecure by biologist Panagiotis Dendrinos, ‘First evidence from protected areas with artificial reefs in Cyprus” by Giorgos Bayadas from the department of fisheries and marine research, ‘Artificial Reefs and financial benefits for Dive Centres – The example of Cyprus by Jonathan Wilson, a member of Cyprus Dive Centres Association and ‘Smart buoys as a tool for sea protection and promotion’ by Dr Tasos Kounoudes CEO SignalGeneriX.
As part of Zenbobia Week, Larnaca is organising an underwater video competition having as a theme the marine life of the Zenobia, a ship that sank off Larnaca in 1980, considered one of the best wreck dive sites in the region, which has seen around 1.5 million dives since it sank. Other events include underwater sports and recreation activities such as submersible scooters.
The tourism board said the Zenobia has become an exceptional artificial reef, hosting thousands of species of fish and other marine life and that was why the video competition seeks to record this impressive world and present it to the wider public. The theme of the competition is Zenobia Marine Life and the video must be two minutes maximum. Deadline for submission is June 19. The videos will be posted online anonymously and the public will be able to vote for the one they think should win.For more information and terms and conditions www.zenobiaweek.com