Government studies have shown that Paphos’ coastline is receding as much as one metre every year.

As of 1985, the coastlines of Paphos have receded between 20 and 40 metres while the problem is even bigger in the north of the district with erosion levels having receded as much as 70 metres. This comes to around one metre per year.

The biggest problems have been observed in Geroskipou and the town of Paphos while Polis-Chrysochous has been the worst hit.

The results of the study Department of Fisheries and Marine Research have been presented to both the hoteliers associations as well as to the relevant municipalities and local communities in the area of Paphos.

Hotel owners are currently in contact with local municipalities in a bid to set up more coral reefs around the district.

A coral reef structure can buffer shorelines against waves, storms, and floods, helping to prevent loss of life, property damage, and erosion.

The problem of erosion is not exclusive to Cyprus.

Europe’s coastline is being worn away by erosion, despite a range of costly measures put in place to protect it, say EU researchers.

Rising sea levels and damage caused by flooding and storms are just a few of the litany of problems facing Europe’s coastlines, according to the authors of an EU report in 2004 on how to cope with coastal erosion.

Almost all the EU-25’s members with a coastline – except Finland, Estonia and Sweden – are confronted with a high degree of erosion.

Of the countries worst affected, Poland tops the list with 55% of its coast affected by erosion, followed by Cyprus (38%), Latvia (33%), while Greece and Portugal are not far behind. Natural erosion is part of the problem, but human intervention is also a major contributor.