1.6 Interactions among aquaculture, capture fisheries and the environment in coastal lagoon management

In each Albanian lagoon, there are licensed fishers groups, the number of which depends on the number of channels communicating with the sea. Usually, lagoons have one communicating channel. Those fishers groups are the first and main users of the lagoon and are rather competent in using the structure. These groups are in some cases competent for fishing licences to recreational fishers, with or without fee.

In close water areas such as lagoons, recreational fishing it is not permitted.
In the past ten years, some changes occurred in Albanian lagoons. These mainly concerned a number of physical parameters, such as water flow and sediment transport. Silting and/or erosion resulting from marine and inland water dynamics are the main processes that must be controlled in order to ensure the physical stability of coastal lagoons. Until 2005, the maintenance of lagoon mouths was supported by the national budget, but since then it has been placed under the responsibility of fishers, who have been incentivated by long-term fishing rights in lagoon exploitation. However, this strategy encountered several difficulties such as limited investments and unclear commitment of the different actors.
The lack of a clear distribution of responsibilities in the management of communication channels between lagoons and the sea and freshwater inlets has negatively affected hydraulic flows within the lagoons.

Albanian coastal lagoons represent a precious natural heritage. They provide in fact habitat to a rich fauna of invertebrates and vertebrates, including an interesting ichthyofauna and avifauna.
The precarious state of coastal lagoons and the lack of financial resources to ensure a proper management are widely recognized among administrators and scientists.
Coastal lagoons are seriously affected by several factors such as the lack of hydraulic management, pollution due to the urbanization of surrounding areas, overfishing and overhunting, illegal fishing and coastal erosion.