This July, AKTI Project and Research Centre organised​ 10 beach cleanups with 10 local authorities within the framework of the MarLitCy project. The campaign included two actions:

1. Beach Cleanups with sorting and recording of the collected marine litter using the Ocean Conservancy protocol. All the data have been entered into our Marine Litter Database.
   
2. Chiringuitos Responsables: beach bars and restaurants were informed about ways in which they can become more environmentally friendly. Those bars and restaurants that agreed to adhere to a Decalogue of Good Practice became member's of the 'Responsible Beach Bars' network.
   

The cleanup activities showed that cigarette butts remain a big problem on touristic beaches in Cyprus, since 58% of the collected litter (by number) was cigarette butts. Small pieces of plastic were also important marine litter items, and made up 11% of the collected litter (by number of items).

The Chiringuitos Responsables campaign was a great success - 48 chiringuitos were informed about environmentally friendly practices, of which 29 joined the 'Responsible Beach Bars' network.

In this year's campaign, 230 individuals were directly involved, whereas indirectly the campaign reached out to 1940 people.

We would like to express our sincere thanks to all the volunteers and all the municipalities for their collaboration and enthusiasm!! Together we can keep our coasts clean!

This year, beach cleanups and the Chiringuitos (Responsible Snack Bar) campaign have been introduced as mandatory activities for all Blue Flag Beaches in Cyprus. So, AKTI staff and volunteers have set out on a three week campaign to clean our beaches and introduce the Chiringuitos Decalogue to all beach snack bars. The first two weeks are now completed and we are thrilled to share some photographs and news about it!

With bags full of positive energy, AKTI with a team of volunteers visited Paphos!
The beach clean-up took place at Sodap Beach Paphos followed by visiting the ‪Chiringuitos‬!
The Deck Paphos, Ta Mpania Restaurant Cafe Lounge bar, Alea Cafe-Lounge Bar, Faros Beach Bar!!!

With the help of volunteers from Rotaract Club Aspelia, Nicosia, Makronissos Beach was cleaned and the nearby Chiringuitos visited!

A great beach clean-up day with Ayios Tychonas Community Council, and great visits to our Chiringuitos, Puesta Oyster bar and grill, La Isla, PlusSea Lifestyle Bar, Blueberry Cafe and Dream Cafe Restaurant & Beach-Bar

2015 was the first year that data from marine litter cleanups in Cyprus were included in the Ocean Conservancy's annual report on 'International Coastal Cleanups'. Most of the submitted data came from cleanups organised within the MarLitCy project and reported on the Marine Litter Database. These news were reported in a full page article published by Haravgi newspaper on 19 June 2016.