Albania REPUBLIKA E SHQIPERISË MINISTRIA E MJEDISIT, PYJEVE DHE ADMINISTRIMIT TË UJËRAVE Protected area gap assessment, marine biodiversity and legislation on marine protected areas Tirana - March 2010 REPUBLIKA E SHQIPERISË Albania MINISTRIA E MJEDISIT, PYJEVE DHE ADMINISTRIMIT TË UJËRAVE PROTECTED AREAS GAP ASSESSMENT, MARINE BIODIVERSITY AND LEGISLATION ON MARINE PROTECTED AREAS This publication has been prepared within the project “Gap Assessment of protected areas and development of marine Protected areas” financed by GEF, Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Water Administration and UNDP. The project is part of the GEF/UNDP PoWPA in the frame of Convention on Biodiversity. The publication was prepared under auspices of Prof. Dr. Lefter Kashta and the project team: Dr. Violeta Zuna – Project coordinator Eno Dodbiba – Project technical expert Dr. Saimir Beqiraj – Marine biodiversity expert Genti Kromidha – Protected area expert Ermira Koçu – Legal expert Albana Zotaj – GIS expert Dr.Virginie Tilot – International marine biodiversity expert Nienke Burgt – International legal expert Tiranë 2010 2 Table of contents PREFACE ....................................................................................................................................................................8 INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................................................................9 1. GAP ASSESSMENT OF THE SYSTEM OF PAS IN ALBANIA................................................................12 1.1. THE SYSTEM OF PROTECTED AREAS IN ALBANIA........................................................................................12 1.1.1. BACKGROUND ................................................................................................................................................12 1.1.2. INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPEMENTS .................................................................................................................13 1.1.3. NATIONAL DEVELOPMENTS ............................................................................................................................14 1.2. PA GAP ANALYSIS......................................................................................................................................15 1.2.1. WHAT IS GAP ANALYSIS?................................................................................................................................15 1.2.2. PRINCIPLES OF GAP ANALYSIS .......................................................................................................................15 1.2.3. STAKEHOLDER APPROACHES..........................................................................................................................16 1.2.4. CARRYING OUT A GAP ANALYSIS....................................................................................................................16 1.3. ASSESSING THE PROTECTED AREA SYSTEM IN ALBANIA .............................................................................19 1.4. ASSESSMENT OF PROTECTED AREA MANAGEMENT .....................................................................................20 1.5. ADRESING GAPS IN PROTECTED AREAS .......................................................................................................22 1.5.1. KEY ISSUES ....................................................................................................................................................22 1.5.2. FUTURE DIRECTIONS FOR ADDRESING PA GAPS..............................................................................................23 1.5.3. ACTIONS ADDRESSING GAPS IN PROTECTED AREA SYSTEM.............................................................................24 1.5.4. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVING THE PAS MANAGEMENT ......................................................................26 2. THE SITUATION ON MARINE BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION AND MPAS IN ALBANIA......27 2.1. BACKGROUND ON MARINE CONSERVATION IN ALBANIA.............................................................................27 2.2. EXISTING COASTAL PROTECTED AREAS IN ALBANIA...................................................................................28 3. ANALYSES OF BIODIVERSITY, NATURAL AND CULTURAL VALUES OF THE PROPOSED POTENTIAL MPAS .................................................................................................................................................30 3.1. SYNTHESIS OF KNOWLEDGE ON BIODIVERSITY OF COASTAL AND MARINE AREAS OF ALBANIA...................30 3.1.1. Knowledge on biodiversity of coastal habitats, flora and fauna. ......................................................31 3.1.2. Coastal vegetation.............................................................................................................................32 3.1.3. Marine flora (Seagrasses and Algae)................................................................................................33 3.1.4. Coastal and marine fauna .................................................................................................................35 3.2. DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSED MARINE PROTECTED AREAS ...........................................................................38 3.2.1. Cape of Rodoni - Lalzi Bay-Ishmi Forest..........................................................................................38 3.2.2. Cape of Lagji -Turra Castle ..............................................................................................................46 3.2.3. Karaburuni peninsula – Sazani island ..............................................................................................51 3.2.4. Canyon of Gjipe.................................................................................................................................67 3.2.5. Porto Palermo ...................................................................................................................................71 3.2.6. Kakomea Bay and Qefali Cape .........................................................................................................75 3.2.7. Çuka Channel -Ksamili Bay and Islands...........................................................................................79 3.2.8. Pagane – Stillo Cape and Island .......................................................................................................84 4. THE FIRST MARINE PROTECTED AREA PROPOSED FOR ALBANIA ............................................90 4.1. INTRODUCTION ...........................................................................................................................................90 4.2. MAIN ENVIRONMENTAL FEATURES OF THE VLORA-KARABURUNIT AREA ...................................................94 4.2.1. General Description..........................................................................................................................94 4.2.2. Climate, Geology, Geomorphology, Hydrology................................................................................96 4.2.3. Biodiversity Resources ......................................................................................................................97 4.3. CULTURAL HERITAGE RESOURCES ...........................................................................................................105 4.4. MAIN HUMAN ACTIVITIES AND RELATED POTENTIAL THREATS IN THE MPA ..............................................106 3 4.4.1. Sustainable management of coastal settlements..............................................................................106 4.4.2. Sustainable Tourism and Ecotourism Development........................................................................106 4.4.3. Maritime traffic and ships anchoring inside or around the MPA....................................................106 4.4.4. Marine tourisme activities (except maritime transport)..................................................................107 4.4.5. Solid Waste management in the MPA and its contiguous zones......................................................107 4.4.6. Sewage water...................................................................................................................................107 4.4.7. Major oil spill risk...........................................................................................................................107 4.4.8. Sustainable fishing ..........................................................................................................................107 4.4.9. Fish farming ....................................................................................................................................108 4.4.10. Collection of marine invertebrates..................................................................................................108 4.4.11. Rare, endangered and threatened species.......................................................................................108 4.4.12. Introduced and invasive species......................................................................................................109 4.4.13. Scientific research inside the MPA..................................................................................................109 4.5. RATIONALE FOR THE FIRST MARINE PROTECTED AREA OF ALBANIA ........................................................110 4.5.1. The international and national levels..............................................................................................110