Gazimağusa NGOs oppose new lagoon marina project

A coalition of 35 non-governmental organizations, organized under the Environment and Ecology Platform, has called for the cancellation of a proposed marina project in the Gazimağusa lagoon area. The group argues that the project threatens the region's ecological, historical, and cultural values.

During a meeting hosted by Gazimağusa Mayor Süleyman Uluçay and attended by officials from the Ministry of Tourism, Culture, Youth and Environment, project consultant Prof. Dr. Tahir Çelik stated that the project would be implemented via a “build-operate-transfer” model. Çelik also noted that the Ministry had issued two tenders for the project, but neither received a bid.

The NGOs expressed dissatisfaction with the official proceedings, stating that a previous press statement issued following an ecological seminar on May 11 had been disregarded. The platform maintains its original position, suggesting that instead of developing the lagoon and its islets, the existing port should be converted into a marina.