From 23 – 26 September 2024, the Cyprus Marine and Maritime Institute (CMMI) welcomed international partners from Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona and Israel Oceanographic & Limnological Research to Cyprus for the first study visit of the project. Capacity building and knowledge transfer was the focus of this meeting.

Day 1: Kick-Off in Larnaca, Cyprus

The consortium convened at the Multi-functional Center for Social Activities and Welfare of the Larnaca Municipality. The meeting began with introductions and an overview of the project activities by Scientific and Technical Manager Louis Hadjioannou. Thereafter, expert-led knowledge transfer sessions explored a range of topics, including:

• Selection of sampling sites.
• Data collection techniques for water, sediment, and marine biota.
• Paleo-oceanographic and paleo-ecological reconstruction methods.
• Visual census techniques, such as permanent transects, photoquads, and fixed video camera deployments.

The day concluded with a walking tour of Larnaca, followed by a consortium dinner that provided an opportunity for cultural exchange and networking.

Day 2: Fieldwork and Public Launch

Participants conducted a field visit to a shortlisted study site in the Ayia Napa region, observing the shallow water reef communities central to the project’s research. In the evening, CMMI hosted the public launch of the PUREEF-Y project, bringing together stakeholders, partners, and marine conservation advocates to celebrate this initiative.

Day 3: Research Facilities and Advanced Training

The group toured the Experimental Marine Aquaculture Station of the Department of Fisheries and Marine Research. Additional training sessions introduced innovative methodologies, including stable isotope analysis and eDNA metabarcoding for marine monitoring. A presentation on the Chemical Oceanography Lab that will be established to support the activities of the project was also discussed. The day concluded with a team-building activity – a kayaking excursion at Governor’s Beach.

Day 4: Knowledge Transfer and Future Planning

The final day focused on knowledge-transfer sessions, primarily addressing topics like international networking, policy-making, and planning future steps for the project.

This productive week not only reinforced collaboration between partners but also advanced the PUREEF-Y project’s goals to foster impactful research and innovation to strengthen marine ecosystem management in the Eastern Mediterranean.