35 organisations oppose marina project in Famagusta Lagoon

An environmental platform bringing together 35 civil society organisations in Northern Cyprus has opposed the construction of a marina in the Famagusta lagoon area and called for the project to be abandoned in its current form.

According to the platform, the site selected for the marina is extremely vulnerable from an environmental perspective: it contains lagoons and reef structures, lies along bird migration routes, and is home to rare, endemic and endangered species.

Instead of developing the lagoon, environmentalists propose converting the existing Port of Famagusta into a marina. They point out that this approach — developing the port and turning the old harbour into a yacht marina — is already included in the State Physical Plan (Ülkesel Fizik Planı).

The platform also insists that the marina must not overshadow Famagusta’s main treasure — the fortress walls and the old city within them.

The project is being overseen by the Ministry of Tourism, Culture, Youth and Environment under the deputy prime minister. Professor Tahir Çelik (Tahir Çelik) is serving as a consultant, while Famagusta Mayor Süleyman Uluçay (Süleyman Uluçay) has joined the discussions. The ministry announced a tender for the marina’s construction twice, but no bids were submitted.