We are excited to announce the winning logo of the 𝑹𝒆𝒔𝒑𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒊𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝑪𝒐𝒂𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒍 𝑩𝒖𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝑵𝒆𝒕𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒌 to be nominated to all the coastal businesses around Cyprus that voluntarily adhere to the decalogue of good practice reduce marine plastic pollution.

The winning designer is Kasia, a graphic  designer from Poland, currently participating in an ESC project in Birdlife Malta. At her current work, she managed to connect her two biggest passions nature  and graphic design! She quotes:
" 𝐼 𝑏𝑒𝑙𝑖𝑒𝑣𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑦𝑜𝑛𝑒 𝑐𝑎𝑛 𝑑𝑜 𝑠𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑔𝑜𝑜𝑑 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑛𝑒𝑡, 𝑏𝑢𝑡 ℎ𝑎𝑠 𝑡𝑜 𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑟𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑤𝑎𝑦 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑜𝑤𝑛 𝑠𝑘𝑖𝑙𝑙𝑠 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑎𝑏𝑖𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑒𝑠, 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡’𝑠 𝑤ℎ𝑦 𝐼’𝑚 𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑦 𝑒𝑥𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑡𝑜 ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑟 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑚𝑦 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑗𝑒𝑐𝑡 𝑤𝑜𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑒𝑡𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛! "

Follow her work here: https://www.behance.net/katarzynapacon

On the 29th of July 2020, the MarLitCy partnership in collaboration with the the Exeter University team at Near East University have successfully implemented the webinar 'Marine Litter in Cyprus 'Revealed''. 
Participants from different organisations attended the webinar and discussed with us the issues of marine litter in Cyprus. 
The video of the webinar in now available to watch!

 What types of marine litter are on our beaches and seabed? How much is there? Which are the most prevalent and pervasive marine litter items? Which are the main sources?
 
These are all questions that need to be answered if we want to understand the level and type of marine litter pollution on our island and identify solutions to tackle the issue.
 
With this reasoning, the bi-communal project ‘MarLitCy’ (www.marlitcy.eu) and the Exeter University team at Near East University have been implementing beach and seabed clean-ups around Cyprus for the past 5 years, categorising litter and recording scientific data.
 
During the webinar, the data collected from both initiatives will be presented and the topic of marine litter as it relates specifically to our island will be discussed. The webinar aims to raise awareness on marine litter in Cyprus and identify synergies/collaboration opportunities.

Registration  HERE
Registration deadline: 28/07/2020 
Location: Online Webinar – Link to the webinar will be provided after registration    
Time: 11:00 – 12:00 a.m. (EEST)
​
AGENDA
11:00 - Welcome and introduction to the Marine Litter for Synergies, Capacity-building and Peacebuilding MarLitCy project – Serdar Atai, Famagusta Walled City Association (MASDER)

​11:10 - Presentation: MarLitCy Beach and Seabed Clean-up Activities and Database – Demetra Orthodoxou, AKTI Project and Research Centre 

11:30 - Presentation: Findings from the Beach Clean-ups around Cyprus – Professor Özge Özden Fuller, Near East University

11:50 - Discussion

12:00 - End of session

On Wednesday, 20 November 2019, 109 students and professors at the University of Cyprus had the opportunity to hear about the environment, marine litter and career opportunities within the blue sector.

The talk was given by Dr. Xenia Loizidou, in her capacity as Chair of the Board of Directors of AKTI Project and Research Centre, and as the Mediterranean Ambassador for Coasts 2019, 

On the 21st of September, was International Coastal Cleanup day, which is the largest global beach and seabed cleanup event every year. And of course, the MarLitCy project joined the efforts, not with 1, not with 2 but with 4 cleanups. Our partners together with our supporters and our volunteers undertook two seabed cleanups where the Dive against Debris initiative took place in Cavo Greko, and two beach cleanups at Cavo Maris and Green Bay in Protaras. Over 200kg of litter was removed from our marine environment!!

​At the same time, we held our 'meet the sea' event where we provided free diving lessons to children and youth, so they get to explore and love our island's marine environment!

We have started our visits to coastal businesses around the island to encourage them to Refuse-Reuse-Reduce-Recycle. During our visits we share our Guide for Responsible Coastal Businesses and try to help businesses identify ways in which they can minimize their negative impact on the marine environment. Below are some photos from our visits to businesses in Famagusta, Salamis, Trikomo/Iskele and Vokolida/Bafra.

To see all the businesses that are members of the Network, visit our interactive map.

You are cordially invited to the launch event of our project, which will take place in Famagusta, on 25 May 2019!
Join us for a day full of activities and for the 'premiere' of the 5 animation videos about marine litter, developed specifically for MarLitCy by students!