PA Gap Assessment, Marine Biodiversity and Legislation on PA and MPA Protected Areas Gap Assessment and Marine Protected Areas Development Project PA GAP ASSESSMENT, MARINE BIODIVERSITY, LEGISLATION ON PA AND MPA - FINAL REPORT Tirana March 2010 1 PA Gap Assessment, Marine Biodiversity and Legislation on PA and MPA Protected Areas Gap Assessment and Marine Protected Areas Development Project PA GAP ASSESSMENT, MARINE BIODIVERSITY, LEGISLATION ON PA AND MPA Consolidated Report Prepared by Lefter Kashta Tirana March 2010 2 PA Gap Assessment, Marine Biodiversity and Legislation on PA and MPA Table of contents PREFACE....................................................................................................................................................9 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT........................................................................................................................10 INTRODUCTION.....................................................................................................................................11 1. GAP ASSESSMENT OF THE SYSTEM OF PAS IN ALBANIA...............................................14 1.1. Background................................................................................................................... 14 1.2. PA gap analysis and establishment of MPA project..................................................... 16 1.2.1. What is gap analysis?............................................................................................ 16 1.2.2. Principles of Gap Analysis.................................................................................... 17 1.2.3. Carrying out a gap analysis................................................................................... 17 1.2.4. Identify Gaps......................................................................................................... 19 1.2.5. Prioritize Gaps...................................................................................................... 19 1.2.6. Agree Strategy...................................................................................................... 20 1.3. PA gap assessment........................................................................................................ 20 1.3.1. Background........................................................................................................... 20 1.3.2. International developments................................................................................... 22 1.3.3. State of the game................................................................................................... 24 1.3.4. Recent developments ............................................................................................ 26 1.3.5. Assessing the protected area system..................................................................... 28 1.4. Assessment of protected area management .................................................................. 30 1.4.1. Background........................................................................................................... 30 1.4.2. Assessment of management effectiveness of protected areas............................... 30 1.5. Addressing gaps in protected areas............................................................................... 32 1.5.1. Key issues............................................................................................................. 32 1.5.2. Actions addressing gaps in protected area system................................................ 34 1.5.3. Recommendations for improving the situation..................................................... 35 2. THE SITUATION ON MARINE BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION AND MPAS IN ALBANIA ..................................................................................................................................................36 2.1. Background on marine conservation in Albania........................................................... 36 2.2. Existing coastal protected areas in Albania .................................................................. 37 Buna River - Velipoja ........................................................................................................... 38 Kune - Vaini.......................................................................................................................... 39 Patok – Fushe Kuqe .............................................................................................................. 39 Rrushkulli.............................................................................................................................. 40 Divjake - Karavasta............................................................................................................... 40 Pishe Poro/ Fier..................................................................................................................... 41 3 PA Gap Assessment, Marine Biodiversity and Legislation on PA and MPA Vjosë – Nartë ........................................................................................................................ 41 Karaburuni peninsula............................................................................................................ 42 Butrinti .................................................................................................................................. 42 3. ANALYSES OF BIODIVERSITY, NATURAL AND CULTURAL VALUES OF THE PROPOSED POTENTIAL MPAS..........................................................................................................43 3.1. Synthesis of knowledge on biodiversity of coastal and marine areas of Albania......... 43 3.1.1. Knowledge on biodiversity of coastal habitats, flora and fauna........................... 44 3.1.2. Coastal vegetation................................................................................................. 45 3.1.3. Marine flora (Seagrasses and Algae) .................................................................... 46 3.1.4. Coastal and marine fauna...................................................................................... 48 3.2. Description of proposed Marine Protected Areas......................................................... 51 3.2.1. Cape of Rodoni - Lalzi Bay-Ishmi Forest............................................................. 51 3.2.2. Cape of Lagji -Turra Castle .................................................................................. 61 3.2.3. Karaburuni peninsula – Sazani island (within the area Llogora-Orikum- Karaburun-Sazan-Radhimë-Tragjas-Dukat)......................................................................... 67 3.2.4. Canyon of Gjipe.................................................................................................... 85 3.2.5. Porto Palermo........................................................................................................90 3.2.6. Kakomea Bay and Qefali Cape............................................................................. 95 3.2.7. Çuka Channel - Ksamili Bay and Islands ........................................................... 100 3.2.8. Pagane – Stillo Cape and Island.......................................................................... 105 4. THE FIRST MARINE PROTECTED AREA PROPOSED FOR ALBANIA .........................110 4.1. Introduction................................................................................................................. 110 4.2. Main environmental features of the Vlora-Karaburunit area...................................... 114 4.2.1. General Description............................................................................................ 114 4.3. Cultural Heritage Resources ....................................................................................... 125 4.4. Main human activities and related potential threats in the MPA................................ 125 4.4.1. Sustainable management of coastal settlements ................................................. 126 4.4.2. Sustainable Tourism and Ecotourism Development........................................... 126 4.4.3. Maritime traffic and ships anchoring inside or around the MPA........................ 126 4.4.4. Marine tourisme activities (except maritime transport)...................................... 127 4.4.5. Solid Waste management in the MPA and its contiguous zones........................ 127 4.4.6. Sewage water...................................................................................................... 127 4.4.7. Major oil spill risk............................................................................................... 127 4.4.8. Sustainable fishing.............................................................................................. 127 4.4.9. Fish farming........................................................................................................ 128 4.4.10. Collection of marine invertebrates...................................................................... 128 4.4.11. Rare, endangered and threatened species............................................................ 128 4.4.12. Introduced and invasive species.......................................................................... 129 4.4.13. Scientific research inside the MPA..................................................................... 129 4.5. Administrative and legal elements.............................................................................