Efforts to protect marine biodiversity through the creation of artificial reefs are delivering results in abundance, the department of fisheries and marine research said on its Facebook page as it posted a documentary capturing enchanting footage of underwater life.

Authorities have sunk several old vessels along the coastline, creating marine protected areas to shelter sea life and promote scuba diving and snorkeling.

The documentary was posted on the department’s Youtube channel in Greek, with subtitles in English.

In nature, ecosystems have always been balanced out by mechanisms which, among others, reduce the excessive increase of populations, the five-minute documentary notes.

As opposed to other species on our planet, man has exceeded nature’s balance mechanisms, it adds. Pollution, overfishing, and the degradation of marine habitats threaten marine eco-systems, but action can be taken to address the problem.

In Cyprus, marine protected areas with artificial reefs have been established in Famagusta, Larnaca, Limassol and Paphos.

Vessels sunk to the seabed are in time absorbed by the environment. These are gradually transformed into colonies, hosting hundreds of creatures which rejuvenate the aquatic flora and fauna and lead to more abundance, the documentary adds.

Perhaps the best known of Cyprus’ marine protection efforts is a long-established programme for endangered loggerhead and green turtles which generated its own new video clip, again posted on the Youtube channel of the department and produced by the PIO.