FAMAGUSTA GAZETTE— As Cyprus recovered from destructive wildfires that have shaken both its environment and local communities, Environment and Animal Welfare Commissioner Antonia Theodosiou took part in a coastal and seabed cleanup Sunday during the Beachpolistas World Tour in Limassol.
Addressing volunteers and organizers, Theodosiou said the environmental action carried extra weight this year.
“We’re not celebrating,” she said. “We’re acting with awareness and responsibility.”
The tournament, which blends sport, charity, and ecological engagement, continues under challenging circumstances.
Organizers have pledged emergency aid and long-term recovery support for fire-hit areas. The event, under the Commissioner’s auspices, also supports TELETHON and promotes sustainability.
Cleanup efforts took place near Limassol’s old port, involving volunteers and groups including the Port Police diving unit, SeaQuest Divers Cyprus, and the Department of Fisheries.
Theodosiou highlighted marine pollution — particularly plastic — as a critical threat in the Mediterranean, where waste damages ecosystems and often reenters the food chain.
“Today we clean,” she said. “But our real success will be when there’s no need to.”
She called for public engagement and behavior change, describing environmental protection as essential to survival, health, and quality of life.