Cyprus plans sharp increase in the cost of hunting licenses

The Cyprus Ministry of Interior has prepared a bill providing for a significant increase in fees for issuing and renewing hunting licenses. According to the document, which is currently open for public consultation, the cost of a standard hunting license will rise by as much as 56% — from the current 77 euros to 120 euros for hunters aged 18 to 65. The price increase will also affect elderly citizens aged 65 to 80, for whom the fee will go up from 43 euros to 65 euros. Hunters over 80 will still be exempt from the fee and will be able to receive the document free of charge.

The bill also includes a provision for the automatic indexation of license fees. In the future, the fees will automatically increase by 5% every four years, starting on August 1 of the relevant year. The authors of the initiative explain the need to raise the tariffs by saying that the cost of hunting licenses in Cyprus has remained unchanged for 21 years — the current rates were approved back in 2005.

All funds obtained from the price increase are planned to be directed to the Hunting and Fauna Service to finance game breeding programs, as well as wildlife and environmental protection. The new rules amend the Law on the Protection and Management of Wild Birds and Game.

The ministry's proposal has already sparked debate amid a gradual decline in the number of active hunters in the country. Last season, around 37,000 licenses were issued, and the main reasons cited for the drop in interest in hunting are the decline in game populations and adverse weather conditions. The bill will only enter into force if it is officially approved by the Cyprus parliament.