Cyprus recorded an estimated €4.03 million in fishery product landings in 2025, according to figures published by Eurostat on Monday.
The figure came as the total value of fishery products landed across the European Union reached €5.5 billion, remaining at a similar level to the previous year.
The EU fishing fleet’s total catch was estimated at 3.3m tonnes in 2025 across the seven marine regions covered by European statistics.
Spain recorded the highest value of landings, accounting for 31 per cent of the EU total, followed by France with 18 per cent and Italy with 12 per cent.
In terms of landed weight, Spain accounted for 21 per cent of the EU catch, followed by Denmark with 16 per cent and France with 14 per cent.
Across the bloc, the Northeast Atlantic accounted for 72 per cent of all fishery products landed in 2025.
The main species caught in the region were herring at 18 per cent of the total, blue whiting at 17 per cent, sprat at 15 per cent and mackerel at 9 per cent.
The Mediterranean and Black Sea ranked second, accounting for 8 per cent of the EU’s total catch.
Sardines represented 19 per cent of the catch in this region, while anchovies accounted for 16 per cent.
The Western Indian Ocean contributed a further 7 per cent of the EU total, with skipjack tuna accounting for 58 per cent of the regional catch, yellowfin tuna for 29 per cent and bigeye tuna for 7 per cent.
The Eastern Central Atlantic and Southwest Atlantic each accounted for 5 per cent of the overall EU catch.
In the Eastern Central Atlantic, horse mackerel represented 38 per cent of the catch, followed by skipjack tuna at 13 per cent, yellowfin tuna at 12 per cent and mackerel at 9 per cent.
The Southwest Atlantic catch consisted mainly of hake, which accounted for 79 per cent, while squid represented 13 per cent.
The remaining 2 per cent of the EU’s total catch came from the Northwest and Southeast Atlantic regions.
Commercial ships have been sunk and sailors killed or left missing as attacks intensify across the Strait of Hormuz and Black Sea, raising concerns for Cyprus’ shipping industry over crew safety, insurance costs and disrupted trade.
The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) has recorded 113 confirmed maritime incidents in the wider Hormuz region since the Middle East conflict began on February 28, with 24 seafarers killed, according to its latest figures, updated on October 14.
The deteriorating security situation comes as drone attacks in the Black Sea move closer to the coasts of Bulgaria and Romania, both NATO members, threatening commercial routes used to transport grain, oil and other commodities.
For Cyprus, which operates one of the world’s major ship registries and hosts an extensive network of ship management companies, the simultaneous crises are adding to concerns over vessel operations, crew safety and the cost of international trade.
Among the latest casualties was the Singapore-flagged container ship GFS Pride, which sank on October 14 after being struck by a projectile near the Omani coast the previous day.
The vessel caught fire and became disabled before sinking, although all 21 crew members were evacuated safely.
Another Singapore-flagged container ship, GFS Giselle, sustained hull damage in a separate incident but managed to reach a safe anchorage, with its crew unharmed.
Singapore’s maritime authorities condemned the attacks, warning against further threats to civilian shipping and describing the incidents as unjustifiable violations of international law.
The Antigua and Barbuda-flagged bulk carrier Cape Dao also sank in October, nearly three weeks after being struck twice near Khasab, Oman, on September 23.
An Indian seafarer died in the attack, while the remaining 26 crew members were rescued.
The two sinkings have raised further concerns because the danger is no longer confined to oil tankers. Container ships and dry bulk carriers are also being caught in the conflict, exposing a wider range of cargoes and shipping operations to disruption.
Indeed, the frequency of attacks has increased considerably. According to maritime intelligence company Windward’s quarterly assessment, 45 vessels were attacked in the Gulf between July and September, compared with 25 during the preceding quarter.
Tankers made up 87 per cent of the vessels targeted, reflecting the growing pressure on energy transportation through one of the world’s most important shipping routes.
At the same time, maritime traffic remains well below pre-war levels. Windward recorded an average of just 24 daily transits through Hormuz during the third quarter, against approximately 138 before the conflict.
Moreover, more than half of September’s transits involved vessels travelling without transmitting their automatic identification system signals, making commercial traffic increasingly difficult to monitor.
While the Gulf crisis continues to disrupt energy shipments, developments in the Black Sea have brought the threat of attacks closer to European shores.
On October 13, the Guinea-Bissau-flagged cargo vessel HS Dignity sank approximately 17 nautical miles off Bulgaria after being struck by a drone.
Five of its 16 crew members were rescued, while 11 were reported missing.
Another vessel, the Malta-flagged Chelsea-3, was attacked on the same day near the Bulgarian coast. All 15 crew members survived.
Bulgarian authorities subsequently ended the search-and-rescue operation for the missing sailors aboard HS Dignity on October 14 after worsening weather conditions prevented further operations.
The attacks have also spread towards Romania, where two chemical tankers were struck near the Sulina Canal on October 15, an important shipping route connecting the Danube with the Black Sea.
The San Marino-flagged Wine Trader caught fire, leaving seven seafarers missing and five rescued. A second tanker, the Comoros-flagged Yara J, was also damaged, although its crew escaped injury.
Romanian authorities initially stopped short of formally attributing responsibility, while a NATO military source linked the strikes to Russian drones.
The incidents have since prompted further military action. On Saturday, October 17, Romanian F-16 fighter jets shot down two drones over the country’s territorial waters, with Defence Minister Radu Miruta saying they were believed to be advanced Russian-made aircraft.
The latest developments have also brought the matter onto NATO’s agenda, with the North Atlantic Council expected to discuss Black Sea security on Tuesday, October 20, following requests from Romania and Bulgaria for stronger protection against drone attacks.
Meanwhile, the scale of the threat has increased sharply. Windward estimates that approximately 86 commercial vessels were attacked in the Black Sea during the third quarter of 2026, compared with 23 during the entire first half of the year.
For shipowners, the consequences extend beyond the immediate risk of losing a vessel. Higher war-risk insurance costs, additional security requirements, possible route changes and longer voyages are all putting pressure on maritime operations.
These costs can eventually reach businesses and consumers, particularly when shipping disruptions affect energy supplies, agricultural commodities and other essential imports.
For Cyprus, the situation is particularly significant as the country continues efforts to strengthen its position as an international maritime centre.
Speaking at a reception promoting the Cyprus Ship Registry in Tokyo on October 15, Shipping Deputy Minister Marina Hadjimanolis said the registry had grown by 27 per cent since September 2023, reaching its highest level in 25 years.
She also emphasised Cyprus’ commitment to maritime safety, reliable regulation and efficient shipping services, while presenting Japan as an important partner for further cooperation.
However, the country’s exposure to international shipping risks extends well beyond vessels flying the Cyprus flag.
Limassol is home to numerous ship management companies and maritime service providers involved in international tanker, dry bulk and container operations. Consequently, developments in both Hormuz and the Black Sea have implications for companies operating from the island, even when the vessels concerned are registered elsewhere.
The danger facing Greek-controlled shipping was already evident earlier this month, when the Dynacom-managed tanker Lipsi, controlled by shipowner George Prokopiou, was struck in Hormuz on October 4.
The vessel, delivered just six weeks earlier, suffered engine-room damage and was left disabled and adrift, although its crew was reported safe. The incident was covered in an earlier report.
A day later, the Greek-flagged LNG carrier Maran Gas Mystras, operated by the Angelicoussis Shipping Group, was also struck while leaving the strait. Its operator subsequently confirmed that the vessel and crew were safe.
Beyond the immediate shipping concerns, prolonged disruption to energy transportation could place further pressure on fuel and electricity costs in Cyprus.
According to Eurostat’s 2026 energy report, petroleum products represented 86 per cent of Cyprus’ available energy in 2024, the highest proportion in the European Union.
With the island still heavily dependent on imported fuels, further increases in international oil prices could have consequences for households and businesses.
The pressure on energy markets was evident last week, with Brent crude closing at $109.86 a barrel on Friday, October 16, its highest level since May, as concerns over Gulf supplies continued.
There may, however, be some room for diplomatic progress.
On Sunday, October 18, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi reiterated that Tehran’s proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within a week remained available to Washington.
Nevertheless, significant differences remain over sanctions, the US naval blockade and other conditions, leaving prospects for an agreement uncertain.
The IMO has repeatedly called for civilian vessels and their crews to be protected, while urging governments to ensure safe passage through international shipping routes.
With attacks continuing in both the Gulf and Black Sea, the immediate challenge for shipping companies is to maintain commercial operations without placing seafarers at unacceptable risk.
Cyprus-based shipping executive Capt. Eberhard Koch has called for a rethink of the International Maritime Organisation’s (IMO) proposed Net-Zero Framework, warning that carbon-based charges could place additional financial pressure on shipowners without necessarily delivering meaningful emissions reductions.
Speaking at the 5th Annual Capital Link Japan Maritime Forum in Tokyo on October 16, Koch, chairman, CEO and partner of Osterreichischer Lloyd Seereederei (Cyprus) Ltd, argued that maritime decarbonisation must be supported by the availability of genuinely zero-emission fuels and reliable infrastructure.
While reaffirming his support for reducing shipping emissions, he questioned the effectiveness of introducing carbon-based financial penalties before shipowners have sufficient access to viable alternatives.
He warned that small and medium-sized shipping companies could be particularly vulnerable to higher operating costs, with some of the additional financial burden potentially passed on to consumers.
Koch therefore called for a more practical regulatory approach, placing greater emphasis on fuel availability, technological readiness and improvements to the efficiency of existing fleets.
“Give us truly zero-emission alternative fuels, together with the reliable supply and infrastructure needed to use them and we will burn them!” he said.
He also urged the Japanese Shipowners’ Association to support efforts to reconsider the IMO framework in its current form, arguing that environmental regulations should encourage measurable emissions reductions rather than taxation alone.
His remarks came during a panel discussion entitled Optimizing Fleet Performance: Decarbonization, Technology & Asset Lifecycle, held at the Tokyo American Club.
Moderated by Matthew Mueller, vice president of ABS, the panel also featured Columbia Group deputy CEO Demetris Chrysostomou, Leonhardt & Blumberg managing director Torben Kölln and Hitesh Vyas, vice president for the Middle East and green recycling coordinator at Wirana Shipping.
Beyond regulatory concerns, participants examined the role of digitalisation, artificial intelligence, energy-efficient technologies and vessel lifecycle management in improving fleet performance.
Koch also questioned whether existing environmental performance measures adequately reflect the operational realities of shipping, stressing that fleet renewal and technological investment must be assessed against both their environmental benefits and commercial implications.
Meanwhile, the forum formed part of a wider programme of maritime engagements in Japan for OL Shipping Group, represented by Koch and chief operating officer and partner Sunil Kapoor.
Their visit included a Columbia Group reception on October 14, followed by the Cyprus Ship Registry reception hosted by Shipping Deputy Minister Marina Hadjimanolis on October 15.
The gatherings brought together representatives of the Cypriot and Japanese maritime communities, including shipowners, banking and leasing companies, providing opportunities to strengthen commercial relationships and promote the Cyprus flag.
For the Cyprus-based shipping group, the Tokyo meetings also offered an opportunity to exchange views with international industry representatives on the regulatory and technological challenges facing shipping.
Koch’s intervention, however, placed particular emphasis on the difficulties confronting smaller operators, arguing that the industry’s environmental ambitions must be matched by technically achievable and commercially viable solutions.
Cyprus is pursuing fresh shipping business in China after a series of meetings with Japanese shipowners, shipyards and government officials, as Shipping Deputy Minister Marina Hadjimanolis promotes a national ship register now at its highest level in 25 years.
The latest round of contacts took place in Shanghai, where Hadjimanolis met Wang Qian, vice-director of the Shanghai Pudong New Area Commission of Commerce and Shipping Service Office, ahead of this week’s major international maritime gatherings.
Their discussions focused on the upcoming North Bund International Shipping Forum and its contribution to strengthening cooperation between governments and the global shipping industry.
Hadjimanolis also met representatives of Dalian Trawind Shipping and Fortuna Shipbrokers Inc., presenting the competitive advantages of the Cyprus flag and discussing opportunities for shipowners seeking to register vessels under the Cypriot register.
The discussions provided an opportunity to address questions about the registry and promote Cyprus as a maritime partner for Chinese shipping businesses.
The meetings come ahead of the North Bund Forum, scheduled for October 20 – 21, which is expected to attract approximately 4,000 participants from more than 50 countries and regions.
Organised jointly by China’s Ministry of Transport and the Shanghai Municipal People’s Government, the forum will examine international shipping, maritime safety, financing, insurance, digitalisation and the industry’s transition towards cleaner fuels.
More than 60 related events are planned, with discussions centred on strengthening the resilience of global shipping and aviation.
Hadjimanolis is also scheduled to participate in the 10th Annual Capital Link International Shipping Forum in Pudong on Tuesday, October 20, where she is listed among the speakers for a ministerial roundtable on international maritime leadership.
The forum’s programme also includes Polys Hajioannou, chief executive of Safe Bulkers and president of the Cyprus Union of Shipowners (CUS), alongside other international shipping executives discussing fleet renewal, ship financing, dry bulk markets and maritime competitiveness.
The China visit will also take Hadjimanolis to Zhoushan, where she is expected to attend the naming ceremony of Safe Bulkers’ Kypros Island, a newly built vessel intended for the Cyprus register.
The 81,200-deadweight-tonne methanol dual-fuel bulk carrier, launched in June at the Tsuneishi shipyard on Xiushan Island, is scheduled for delivery at the end of October.
According to the Zhejiang Maritime Safety Administration, the vessel was scheduled to undergo sea trials between October 11 and 16, ahead of its planned delivery.
The developments in China follow Hadjimanolis’ earlier programme in Tokyo, where she met Japan’s Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, Kenta Aoshima, on Friday, October 16.
Her meetings with the Japanese maritime industry also included senior representatives of Shoei Kisen Kaisha, Nihon Shipyard, NYK Line, ITOCHU Corporation and SSY Projects.
The discussions explored opportunities to expand maritime cooperation, bringing Cyprus into closer contact with Japanese shipowners, shipbuilders, shipping operators and other businesses involved in international maritime trade.
During the 5th Annual Capital Link Japan Maritime Forum, held at the Tokyo American Club on October 16, Hadjimanolis participated in a one-on-one discussion with Capital Link founder and president Nicolas Bornozis on global maritime leadership, competitiveness, policy and international cooperation.
The forum also examined Japan’s shipbuilding plans, the financing of new vessels and the development of ammonia-powered ships, with participation from Japanese shipyards, shipping companies and financial institutions.
Hajioannou joined a separate panel on international shipowners conducting business in Japan, discussing commercial opportunities alongside other executives from the global shipping industry.
The Tokyo engagements followed a Cyprus Ship Registry reception on October 15, hosted by Hadjimanolis for representatives of Japan’s maritime and business communities.
Hajioannou delivered the opening address, while the minister presented Cyprus’ shipping services, regulatory framework and efforts to attract additional vessels to the national register.
Speaking at the reception, Hadjimanolis announced that the Cyprus Ship Registry had grown by 27 per cent since September 2023, reaching its highest level in 25 years.
According to her official address, the expansion reflects efforts to improve the registry’s competitiveness, simplify administrative procedures and provide more responsive services to international shipowners.
She also emphasised Cyprus’ inclusion on the White Lists of the Paris and Tokyo Memoranda of Understanding (MoU), which reflect the safety and inspection performance of ships operating under national flags.
The Cypriot minister’s visit coincided with a separate diplomatic and commercial push by Greek Shipping Minister Vassilis Kikilias, who held a series of high-level meetings in Tokyo aimed at expanding cooperation with Japan in shipping, shipbuilding and port infrastructure.
Kikilias met Japanese Minister for Development Strategy Minoru Kiuchi, Vice-Minister for Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Kentaro Asahi, and Taro Kono, chairman of the Japan–Greece Parliamentary Friendship Group.
According to the Greek shipping ministry, discussions with Kiuchi focused on security threats in the Strait of Hormuz, their consequences for international maritime trade and opportunities for closer cooperation in port logistics and shipbuilding.
The two ministers also examined cooperation within the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), particularly negotiations concerning shipping’s energy transition, while reaffirming their countries’ commitment to international law and freedom of navigation.
In separate talks with Asahi, Kikilias discussed expanding investment opportunities in shipping and shipbuilding, alongside closer operational cooperation between the Greek and Japanese coast guards.
The Greek minister stressed that the shortage of alternative marine fuels made liquefied natural gas (LNG) an important transitional option, warning that decisions on shipping’s energy transition could directly affect global energy prices, trade costs and economic competitiveness.
His discussions with Kono also covered geopolitical developments, including the conflict affecting the Strait of Hormuz and the war in Ukraine, while both sides agreed to pursue closer maritime cooperation, recognising the contribution of Greek-owned vessels to Japan’s energy supplies.
The parallel engagements by Cyprus and Greece underline the growing importance of Japanese shipbuilding, maritime investment and international shipping policy for both Mediterranean maritime centres, as shipowners face increasing geopolitical risks and pressure to renew their fleets.
The renewed outreach to Japan follows existing commercial ties between Cyprus and Japanese companies, including agreements announced by Safe Bulkers in May for four Japanese-built dry bulk vessels, with deliveries scheduled for 2029.
The latest meetings form part of Hadjimanolis’ wider October 14 – 29 Asian mission, which will continue to South Korea.
There, she is expected to attend the 2026 World Maritime Day Parallel Event and Korea Maritime Week, alongside IMO secretary-general Arsenio Dominguez and government representatives from several countries.
Her programme will include discussions on the implementation of international maritime conventions and bilateral talks aimed at strengthening Cyprus’ shipping cooperation with South Korea.
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