The Karaburun-Sazan Marine National Park, created in 2010, is the 1st MPA established in Albania.
Fishing is only allowed in certain areas and only fishers holding a permit issued by the marine area
management authorities are allowed to access it. Recently, the management measures have been
expanded and MPA managers want to improve their collaboration with the local fishers and
strengthen the involvement of fishers in the management of the MPA. They plan to strengthen the
effectiveness of management measures and fisheries monitoring activities in the territory. Albanian
managers expected to build on the experience of the Italian MPA of Torre-Guaceto, also located in
the Adriatic Sea, which is a success story of small-scale fisher’s involvement in the management of
fisheries in an MPA. Indeed, the Torre-Guaceto MPA succeeded in overcoming the crisis between
fishers and local authorities concerning the ban on fishing in the MPA when it was established in
2001. With the support of scientists, an agreement between fishers and managers was found to open
certain areas to a regulated fishery co-managed by fishers and local authorities.