The only ones in the Mediterranean: Overfishing in Albania endangers marine reserves

<x0thIalia, Croatia, Greece, Slovenia and Montenegro, each in its own way, set the example that fish reserves should be preserved and multiplied,” told BIRN Avni Sabahu, a fisherman with about 40 years of experience.

Sabahu has visited a large part of the region's ports, where fishermen are funded by the state during the period of “biological truce”, when exit is prohibited.

In the period of biological breeding, in summer when fish lay eggs, fish are forbidden in these places. During this time, ship personnel carried out maintenance and repair tools as they are paid by the state,” he adds.

In Albania, this policy is missing.

The main derogès in our country is the lack of financial compensation for fishermen during the biological truce,”-He told BIRN Jerina Kolitari, assistant professor and fishing expert, aquaculture and environment.

According to her, the “biological truce” is a temporary stop to help protect marine resources and ensure stability in the future. Our “Our divers fish over the year, and as a result, fish stocks are on the decline,” adds.

The Ministry of Agriculture's data confirms this: From 5,192 tons of fish stocks in 2021, they dropped to 3,860 tons in 2025.

Veliu, one of the former directors of the Organisation for Fishing Management (OMP) in Durres that asked not to be published last name, said that since its establishment in 2012, this organisation has regularly requested the implementation of “biological truce”, as in other countries in the region.

But, according to him, lack of funding for ship personnel and aid sectors has prevented any efforts to implement it. The fishing sector is not financed by the state budget,” he adds.

At the port of Durres, about 120 fishing boats are anchored, out of which about 40 are not active. In other countries, these vehicles have been taken out of use through their state purchase of a measure that is not implemented in Albania due to lack of funds.

Officially, in a generation of three miles off the coast it is forbidden to fish throughout the year. The Durres port dispatcher reportedly is continuous, and violators are fined, but that is not enough. Equip nets also continue to destroy areas beyond the forbidden generation.

“Peshch has been reduced to quantity and size. Small-eyed networks include reckless individuals,” cilitar warns.

Meanwhile, the tourism sector has also become aware of the importance of a temporary summer fishing break.

We understand that fish stocks have to be protected and that fishermen have to respect the breeding cycles of barbon, cod, sup, etc. It's a good one for all,” said Agron Braho, manager of a restaurant in the Durres coastal mall. /Periscope/