"Albania for sale", after Vlora and Lezha, 60 hectares of sea surface in Saranda are up for auction!

2024-12-26 21:19:38Investigim SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX
"Albania for sale", after Vlora and Lezha, 60 hectares of sea surface in Saranda are up for auction!

A few weeks ago, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development put up for "sale" a full 4 million square meters of sea surface, while the winners have been announced, some of whom have strong political connections. At that time, hundreds of hectares in Vlora and Lezha were put up for auction, while Saranda has also come up for auction.

The marine area in this area will be given to the private sector, again casting great doubts that it can be used for other purposes. Moreover, these sudden announcements by the ministry do not provide information on whether or not interest groups have been consulted, who will manage them, and whether they have an impact on the flora and fauna of the sea or Lake Butrint.

The ministry does not provide information on whether environmental studies have been conducted and, if so, who conducted them and what they found. History has shown that government decisions to grant or sell public property have been contested and have always fallen into the hands of oligarchs or businesses with strong ties to politics and the majority. And it cannot be otherwise, since one of the pearls of Albania, the coast of Saranda, will be given to the private sector. After the hills and beaches, it is now the turn of the water!

"Albania for sale", after Vlora and Lezha, 60 hectares of sea surface
Facsimile: Announcement of the Ministry of Agriculture on the allocation of water surface in Saranda

"Albania for sale", after Vlora and Lezha, 60 hectares of sea surface"Albania for sale", after Vlora and Lezha, 60 hectares of sea surface

The above document, obtained by the VoxNews editorial team, is the announcement made by the Ministry of Agriculture to the Public Procurement Agency. The Ministry writes that it is granting this water surface based on several laws and the Council of Ministers to compete for the right to fish in inland waters, other forms of fishing at sea, without the use of floating vehicles, and the development of aquaculture on public, land and water surfaces.

"The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development announces participation in a public competition for the development of intensive marine aquaculture activity, Category 01 of the ZPA for fish in the Designated Aquaculture Area (ZPA) ZPA_SAR_F01_04 in the coastal area of ??Saranda, in several sub-areas," the announcement states.

The list includes 7 sub-areas in Saranda with a total area of ??60 hectares, including the respective coordinates. The Ministry says that the entity must clearly define in the business plan the timeframe for achieving the maximum production capacity of fish products in the area designated for competition. In any case, the works must be completed within three years from the moment of signing the respective contracts.

A few weeks ago, VoxNews published an investigation into the "sale" of a 4 million square meter water area.

"Albania has always been for sale, from the mountains, hills, fields or coastal areas. With various laws and decisions, that of concessions, strategic investments, the "1 euro" initiative, or even the creation of industrial and tourist zones, millions of square meters throughout the country have been given away for free to private individuals. Some with political connections, others with strong business connections, or even people with criminal pasts, have benefited from these state properties. But, without the echo of Strategic Investments or the parceling of beaches, the government has already undertaken another initiative; to rent out the sea! The ministry has announced several auctions, in the Ionian and Adriatic Seas. In total, according to the editorial office's calculations, the ministry has put up for 'sale' an area of ??401.2 hectares, or 4,012,000 square meters of water surface," our editorial office wrote.

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