Cyprus - Bass Paradise

[CyBasser]

Is this the contrast on the picture or maybe my own eyes... but the surrounding of this lake (or what's left of it) seems pretty green to me.

The surrounding forests do not seems to be too much hit by the drough you're experiencing.

I guess you guys also have unforseen low water tables ?

Are those dams used for water stocking or for electricity production mainly ?

Hello there!

I am very glad about the comments you've made about my photo (the one published above by my friend Cybassman).

Indeed, you mentioned something important, the obvious thing about the draught.

Over here, over the last year or so, all the media have been talking about the "draught" that has caused our reservoirs to shrink, some to amazingly low levels as you saw. What they don't know is that the main reason the stored water has disappeared is because of bad management.

The climate of Cyprus has been going through cyclic changes ever since data were recorded (1898). We usually have 2 or three years of heavy rainfall, follwed by three or four years of average or below average rainfall. The last "heavy rainfall period" was between 2202 and 2004 (with all those years being about 30-40% above normal in rainfall). At the end of spring of 2004, for the first time in history, our reservoirs were at 99% of available capacity.

We expected a 3-4 year period of lower rainfall. Indeed, 2005 was at 100.5% of normal rainfall, 2006 was at 85% of normal rainfall, and 2007 was at 105% of normal. This year up to now is very disappointing, with about 60% of normal.

Based on experience accumulated through previous years, and a reasonable planning, we should have had at least 40% of the stored water still available. Yet we only have about 10%!!!!!! There was an incredible amount of water released every year from the reservoirs, about double of what was the norm during the previous years. By 2006 the direction where our water storage was headed was obvious. A group of people (us included) were calling everyone's attention to the issue. But there was nobody listening.

A mixture of financial interests (pressure for the construction of desalination plants and water needed to keep huge golf courses green in the extreme Cyprus summer heat), along with politics (the need of voters for the previous government meant no restriction in water usage until now, the elections were 10 days ago) meant that we WASTED  about 300 MILLION cubic meters of water in the last three years (that is more than the total capacity!).

Hence, the areas sourrounding the reservoirs appear nice and green (since there was no real draught), but the reservoirs themselves look brown, dry, and barren, mini deserts in the Cyprus countrysite....

This is the sad story of how Cyprus, which could readily be THE BASS HEAVEN, is slowly becoming a bass angler's hell > > > > >

[Cybassman]

The surroundings are green.  The forest is not affected by the drough.  This is normal for the island. We can have 3-5 years of low rain and then 1-2 rainy years.  The dams are used for water storage only.

the real problem is bad water management.  In the beginning of 2005 we had all our dams full (best year in the last 20 years).  The water should have been enough to last for 6-7 years.  It was all bad water management from the government.  Or was done on purpose for somebody to get another 3 licences for desalination plants and sell water to the rest of us.  In other words a crime was committed !!! >

By the way, this is what the dam looked like in 2005:

[Vyron]

good ol' days

[Lavrax]

good ol' days

indeed good days... I remember 6 years ago when i was in the army.. I was sneaking out of the camp to go for some bass fishing at Dhipotamos..and then back

[CyBasser]

The surroundings are green. The forest is not affected by the drough. This is normal for the island. We can have 3-5 years of low rain and then 1-2 rainy years. The dams are used for water storage only.

the real problem is bad water management. In the beginning of 2005 we had all our dams full (best year in the last 20 years). The water should have been enough to last for 6-7 years. It was all bad water management from the government. Or was done on purpose for somebody to get another 3 licences for desalination plants and sell water to the rest of us. In other words a crime was committed !!! >

By the way, this is what the dam looked like in 2005:

Gosh.... Just imagine.... Now we can drive ON MOST OF THE BOTTOM of the reservoir!

[CyBasser]

The surroundings are green. The forest is not affected by the drough. This is normal for the island. We can have 3-5 years of low rain and then 1-2 rainy years. The dams are used for water storage only.

the real problem is bad water management. In the beginning of 2005 we had all our dams full (best year in the last 20 years). The water should have been enough to last for 6-7 years. It was all bad water management from the government. Or was done on purpose for somebody to get another 3 licences for desalination plants and sell water to the rest of us. In other words a crime was committed !!! >

By the way, this is what the dam looked like in 2005:

And here is what it looks like now (picture taken from the parking lot on the dam wall....

[T-rig]

And here is what it looks like now (picture taken from the parking lot on the dam wall....

Are there any fish left in that puddle? The oxygen levels must be real low. It really is a shame!

[Cybassman]

And here is what it looks like now (picture taken from the parking lot on the dam wall....

Are there any fish left in that puddle? The oxygen levels must be real low. It really is a shame!

Suprisingly, yes, the remaining fish seem to be healthy in this particular dam. Many fish were killed by the "fish collectors" we mentioned earlier (maybe in this case they did us a favour), but the ones left in it are healthy and are our only hope for the future. Of course being winter, the water is still cold. I believe though that they will not survive the coming summer with air temperatures in the range of 100-110 degrees F and strong sunshine. The deepest point I could measure is about 15ft.:'(

[Cheeto]

Hi there, I will be over in Cyprus on Sunday 6th April for a couple of weeks down Agia Napa way. The condition of the Dams looks really bad.

I hope you have had some rain by now !

Regards

Andy

[Cybassman]

Hi there, I will be over in Cyprus on Sunday 6th April for a couple of weeks down Agia Napa way. The condition of the Dams looks really bad.

I hope you have had some rain by now !

Regards

Andy

We had some rain the last couple of days but it does not change anything. We need a lot of rain. The government has already imposed running water restrictions. We have running water for 8 hours every 48 hours. The situation is tragic. We have to import water from another country (possibly Greece) if we are to have enough to go thru summer. As far as the lakes are concerned... what lakes? Most of them are little ponds. And the "fish collectors" are taking care of whatever fish are left in them.

:'( :'( :'(

Anyway, I hope you enjoy your holidays here (and don't worry about the water in the hotel. There are no restrictions for tourists. Just use it sensibly please).

[Cheeto]

That is very sad news.

Regards

Andy

Hi there, I will be over in Cyprus on Sunday 6th April for a couple of weeks down Agia Napa way. The condition of the Dams looks really bad.

I hope you have had some rain by now !

Regards

Andy

We had some rain the last couple of days but it does not change anything. We need a lot of rain. The government has already imposed running water restrictions. We have running water for 8 hours every 48 hours. The situation is tragic. We have to import water from another country (possibly Greece) if we are to have enough to go thru summer. As far as the lakes are concerned... what lakes? Most of them are little ponds. And the "fish collectors" are taking care of whatever fish are left in them.

:'( :'( :'(

Anyway, I hope you enjoy your holidays here (and don't worry about the water in the hotel. There are no restrictions for tourists. Just use it sensibly please).

[johnnytheboy]

cracking looking bass hoe they aren't all gone by september as i will be over on holiday

[Lavrax]

Well...I believe it is time to change the name of this topic, and rename it :  CYPRUS = BASS HELL ! ! !

Below are some photos reflecting todays reality on this god damned island!

DAMS DRAINED TO DEATH (water emptied to the sea or given to golf courts)

DEATH DUE TO LOW WATER AND OXYGEN LEVELS AND HIGH TEMPERATURES (BIG FISH SOUP)

DEATH DUE TO WATER POLLUTION

BASS STARVING DUE TO FORAGE SHORTAGE

GARBAGE LEFT BEHIND EVERYWHERE

NEW ILLEGAL FISHING METHODS ARE USED EACH TIME

THE GOVERNMENT HAS LAWS BUT DOESNT GIVE A SH..

[MaxDal]

I feel your pain buddy.

Let's say Cyprus could have been Europe's own El-Salto.

Not to mention all the commercial breaks I keep seeing on CNN and CNBC depicting Cyprus as the year round island where everything is greener than anywhere else.

Not anymore as it seems.

Pity !

Are those dead tilapias I see in the picture with water full of trash ?

[island bassin]

Well...I believe it is time to change the name of this topic, and rename it : CYPRUS = BASS HELL ! ! !

Below are some photos reflecting todays reality on this god damned island!

DAMS DRAINED TO DEATH (water emptied to the sea or given to golf courts)

DEATH DUE TO LOW WATER AND OXYGEN LEVELS AND HIGH TEMPERATURES (BIG FISH SOUP)

DEATH DUE TO WATER POLLUTION

BASS STARVING DUE TO FORAGE SHORTAGE

GARBAGE LEFT BEHIND EVERYWHERE

NEW ILLEGAL FISHING METHODS ARE USED EACH TIME

THE GOVERNMENT HAS LAWS BUT DOESNT GIVE A SH..

:'( :'( :'(

[CyBasser]

I feel your pain buddy.

Let's say Cyprus could have been Europe's own El-Salto.

Not to mention all the commercial breaks I keep seeing on CNN and CNBC depicting Cyprus as the year round island where everything is greener than anywhere else.

Not anymore as it seems.

Pity !

Are those dead tilapias I see in the picture with water full of trash ?

Hi Max,

OK, my friend Lavrax has made a strong point. Yes, Cyprus could have been Europe's own El Salto. What bothers us most is that what you have seen in the photos posted by Lavrax, is the result of our own government MISMANAGEMENT. Things could (and should!!!) had been waaaayyyy different. Yes, we are passing through a drought cycle but this was expected - these cycles occur regularly interchangeably with above normal rainfall ever since 1898 (that's the first year that rainfall data were kept). So, the low rainfall period was a given. That about 50% of the available water was allowed to run freely to the sea though was our government's act, not nature's!

At times I have been accused by my friends over here on the island that I am favoring privatization (with its associated higher costs for the anglers and other consequental restrictions), but our government (not only the current one, practically ALL) have clearly shown us that they are TOTALLY INCAPABLE of managing our freshwater fisheries. I am pretty sure that none of the above would have happenned had these waters being managed by a profit - seeking private unit. I am a believer that angling should be available to all, but our government tries hard to prove all of us here in Cyprus wrong!

You are right that in one photo you see lots of dead tilapia. That's a distinct point about mismanagement. The government has introduced Tilapia to the island, but in several cases they put them in small reservoirs getting spring runoff from snow melt (ie very cold water!). The result is that every March we see many older tilapia which do not survive the cold water period! We (myself, cybassman, the CFAA, and others) have suggested many times the introduction of more favorable fish species for the role of a mid-level fish in the ecological pyramid of our systems. I am a biologist and have prepared a large study for the Fisheries Department with pros and cons for many species including (among others) various sunfish, gizzard and threadfin shad, other cyprinids (we already have carp, roach, silver bream, crucian carp, bleak, goldfish) etc. It just sits for several years tucked away in a drawer.....

We have outlined them plans for better management, including control of illegal fishing, water management, shoreline erosion avoidance, and leanup of the garbage. It's just like talking to the walls!

OK, let's be honest, not all is yet lost on the island. There are a few reservoirs in great shape, most of them relatively small and not connected to the major systems. But we have lost a few of our best fisheries - completely through mis-management. We are now trying hard to restore what is left and for the first time we are trying to get the attention of European fishing organizations. Hopefully things will change for the better. In the meantime, we still... Pray for rain, because if this coming winter is again low in rainfall then we'll certainly lose some of the best bass lakes imaginable! :-/ :-/ :'( :'(

[MaxDal]

Beter going private than having no water left at all ! Quite an understatement. I don't really know what the purchasing power is really like over there. I assume it's lower than ours. By saying than every citizen has a right to access the water, do you mean that you don't have to get any fishing licence to fish ?

Are there some kinds of DNR in Cyprus ?

Don't take it bad, but I think most Europeans pay little (if any) attention to Cyprus. (A minority of bass fishermen here knows about the bass fishing potential of Cyprus). And I'm pretty sure most of them would mistake Cyprus for Malta on a map.

I think most people here just don't understand how Cyprus really works. Most people are pretty confused as to whether Cyprus is really united or still is a bi-system island (Cyprus + TRNC = Cyprus ?)

But I'm not going political here... I don't know enough about Cyprus to really discuss the issue.

Since Cyprus is in the European Union, maybe you should take a look at the possibilities offered to file a complain against your gov for water ressources mismanagment.

I know that the EU has a strong policy in terms of water systems rehabilitation. You might want to contact the Effta too, their purpose is to stand up for the interest of the fishing industry as whole in Europe.

I pray for you to get rain showers soon. But that would still be just a short-term solution, if the managment of the ressources is to keep getting worse.

[Cybassman]

Bass fishing in Cyprus is almost history. Most bass lakes have been destroyed by the government officials in an efford to persuade people that we have a water shortage problem and make money from desalination plants and importing water from Greece using vessels.  In 2004 all but one of our dams were overspilling (the only one not overspilling was about one meter below its max capacity).  The water would be enough to last for approx 7 years without any rain at all.  Since then we had 3 years of almost normal rain and 1 year (last winter) of really low rainfall.  We have 8 large reservoirs of which 5 are almost empty and thousands of dead fish creating an unbearable smell.  The biggest dam (Kouris) has only 1 million cubic meters of water our of the 115 capacity.  In 2004 it was overspilling for the first time in its history.  The other 2 are in a somewhat better position with about 10-20 % of their capacity.

Yermasogia dam, my favorite lake was one of our best places.  It offered superb bass fishing.  I have great memories from fishing there including my personal bass record and an unforgettable fishing day of catching 92 bass in 5 hours.  Unfortunately the lake was sacrificed for the reasons explained above.  Out of the approx. 220 acres and 100 ft deep lake, there is now a small pond of about 0.5 of an acre and max 3-4 feet depth.  See the photos below.

[Cybassman]

Another one....

[Cybassman]

Next one... See the fish?  It is what is left from a 3-pound bass.  There are fish scattered everywhere  :'(.

[T-rig]

That's terrible! :'( Are there any fish left in that "pond"? Are you able to rescue some of them?

[Cybassman]

Many fish are still alive there (bass, carp, roach, mullet, tilapia, etc)but it is next to impossible to rescue them.  The area around the water is full of deep mad.  The fisheries department tried to use nets but again there are many obstacles in the water making the use of nets impossible to use.

I believe that the mistake the fisheries dept did was not to try to save some fish when there was more water and they could use boats. Now it is too late.  And being August with such high temperatures, most (if not all) of the fish will die before the rain comes.

[JShrock07]

Man that totally sucks!!!!!!!! >

[island bassin]

It seems that God listed our prayers. Check this out...

Before:

After

Before

After

... and we are back in action

[Vyron]

yeahhhhhhhhhh babyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy   :)