Through the MESOPHOS project, the Marine & Environmental Research (MER) Lab carried out the first exploration of mesophotic ecosystems (50- to 200-m depth) of Akrotiri and Dhekelia in Cyprus, surveying more than 32 sites with an ROV. The surveys, funded by the U.K. government, revealed extensive assemblages of sponges, corals, anemones and other benthic organisms that support rich marine life.

More than 200 species were recorded, including several not previously reported in Cyprus, many of them protected and/or threatened. These mesophotic habitats are biodiversity refuges and contribute indirectly to sustainable fisheries, strengthening the resilience of marine resources.

Despite the depth, the human footprint was evident. The team documented marine litter and lost fishing gear that continue to affect marine life, marks from bottom-towed gear/trawling causing disturbance to sensitive habitats, the presence of alien species, and coral necrosis likely linked to ocean warming. These habitats develop extremely slowly and have limited capacity to recover once disturbed.

The MESOPHOS findings confirm the presence of sensitive ecosystems at 50 to 200 m and the pressures they face. There is an urgent need to adopt targeted protection measures, such as spatial restrictions on damaging activities and active management/removal of litter and lost gear, together with long-term, systematic scientific monitoring, the researchers said. Safeguarding this hidden natural wealth is essential for Cyprus’s marine heritage and for future generations.

Watch the project video here.