A serious problem that has plagued the operation of Kato Pyrgos fishing shelter for years appears to be heading towards definitive resolution.
The chronic phenomenon of sand and dead seaweed accumulation, mainly Posidonia, at the entrance and harbour basin has led to significant operational problems requiring repeated and expensive cleaning and deepening interventions.
President Nikos Christodoulides announced the improvement of Kato Pyrgos fishing shelter and the definitive and holistic solution to the silting problem during his tour of the Tillyria region, stating that the area’s development depends partly on supporting sea professionals.
Current costs drive need for permanent solution
According to Public Works Department data, each such intervention costs approximately €400,000 to €500,000 and is repeated roughly every 1.5 to 2 years, significantly burdening the state budget.
This systematic need for cleanings has highlighted the urgent necessity for a permanent, technically viable and environmentally compatible solution.
In this context, the state is proceeding with extensive improvement works costing €5.6 million, which have been studied in detail through the approved Environmental Impact Assessment Study.
The project is expected to be co-financed by the European Union through the Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Programme 2021-2027.
Technical solution details announced
The proposed solution, deemed technically and environmentally optimal, includes construction of new windward and leeward breakwaters, with entrance repositioning towards deeper waters; demolition of existing structures and reuse of rock blocks where feasible; creation of access corridors for cleaning vehicles to facilitate future maintenance with land equipment without need for dredging; and installation of pipes and channels for harbour basin water renewal, plus creation of a fresh seawater system through a fountain.
The solution selection was based on technical and environmental criteria, including ensuring wave calm within the harbour basin, definitively addressing the silting problem, reducing long-term maintenance costs, and protecting the sensitive marine environment, as the area is surrounded by ecologically important habitats.
Extended operational timeline planned
The project’s construction lifespan is estimated at 50 years, whilst functional adequacy is calculated at 25 years, with provision for re-examination and possible upgrade according to future needs.
Following a request from the Department of Fisheries and Marine Research, the project design includes provisions for doubling berths from 16 to 30 to serve both professional fishermen and Naval and Port Police vessels.
Environmental protection prioritised
Particular emphasis was placed on natural environment protection. The environmental study includes an ecological inventory of the area, shoreline evolution simulations, use of a 3D physical model, and biodiversity and water flow studies, whilst noting that extensive deepening affecting the seabed will not be undertaken.
The President noted in December that the Agriculture Ministry, in cooperation with the Public Works Department and National Technical University of Athens, are already studying optimal solutions, with the related study completing within 2025.
Subsequently, he added, the project tender is expected with completion and operation scheduled around 2026.
Regional development implications
Kato Pyrgos fishing shelter constitutes critical infrastructure for the local economy and social cohesion of an area that remains geographically isolated.
The shelter upgrade is expected to contribute substantially to vessel safety, fishing profession sustainability, and the area’s tourism and environmental development.
With the project’s implementation, the state sends the message that Kato Pyrgos’s future should not rely on temporary patches but on substantial interventions with a long-term horizon and respect for the natural environment.