Ayia Napa Marina welcomed a civil society initiative to launch a local whale watching, lifeboat station and marine protection program. An agreement was reached between Mr. Amr El Adawy on behalf of marina management, and Mr. Nicolaos Khovrin Komnenos, chairman of international NGO, BNLI Stichting, to relocate their whale and marine protection and lifeboat ship to Cyprus for the purpose. On the maiden voyage the vessel will be crewed by the cadets of the French Maritime Academy. Recent studies of marine biologists discovered a population of sperm and beaked whales in the waters around Cyprus. During handshake ceremony, held on July 16, 2025 (on the photo) the Parties underlined the importance of creating awareness among visitors to the marina, boaters and public in general of the importance of whales in fertilisation of phytoplankton, a critical component in global oxygen and CO2 circulation.

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