NICOSIA, Feb. 6 (Xinhua) -- Cyprus banned fishing and boat movement along a picturesque coast dotted with caves in the western part of the island to protect an endangered seal species, a statement by the Ministry of Agriculture said on Wednesday.

It said that the rocky beach and caves of the Peyia coast, a favorite tourist village that has more foreign residents than Cypriots, were the habitat of the Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus) and were suitable for its reproduction.

Cypriot television channels on Tuesday broadcast video pictures released by the Ministry of Agriculture of a just born seal frolicking along the coast.

The Minister of Agriculture Costas Kadis said the seal was two-months old, adding that her birth has raised the population of monk seals recorded in Cyprus to 14.

The baby seal was given the name of Aphrodite, after the mythological Greek goddess of love who had her sanctuary not far from the coast.

The Ministry of Agriculture said that the measure banning fishing and boats from coming near the caves came into effect since February 1.

The coast is defined as a Natura 2000 area protected under European Union directives.

The area along the coast was being build up by land developers who erected luxury houses for the wealthy.

After a campaign by environmentalists, authorities last year banned the building of houses closer than 40 meters from the coast.

The Peyia sea caves area is systematically monitored by the department of fisheries and marine research for the protection of the Mediterranean monk seal, the rarest out of the 33 species of seals that exist in the world.

The species was given the name of monk seal because of a brownish stain on their scull in the shape of a monk's cap. Enditem

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