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| The promenade on the coast of Golem has been damaged by sea erosion during the winter. Photo: Eriola Azizolli. |
Between Durrës and Kavaja on the Albanian coast, the winter's sea progress has damaged dozens of businesses, public investments, and the Rrushkullit natural reserve, while local government institutions say they lack data and specialists to address the consequences, local media say.
Luan Shtaza, a beach equipment vendor, came out earlier this year to sell from his mobile cart at one of the beaches in Golem, Kavaja, but was surprised by the sea's progress towards the land.
"Every year, the sea progresses towards the land. Do you see that tower near the sea? It was a watchtower, but the sea has advanced towards it during this winter," says the 52-year-old.
In the Golem area in the Municipality of Kavaja, tourism businesses have responded to erosion with stone and earth barriers, but have not been able to prevent damage.
"We are preparing for the season, but every year we have to start with repairs of the damages caused by the sea during the winter. This year, it destroyed the entire wooden structure on the ground from the beach to the hotel," says the owner of a hotel on the first line.
Coastal erosion is, according to experts, a natural phenomenon based on the tidal forces of ebb and flow, causing the erosion of the coastal space from the force of the sea waves and the progress of the sea towards the land. In the gentle sandy coasts, the phenomenon of erosion appears more aggressive, and the sea's progress is larger and faster.
However, the erosion rates on the Albanian coast are considered alarming.
"The case of the Eastern Adriatic is undoubtedly a clear example of the manifestation of this phenomenon. The most affected area is the area from the south of Shëngjin to the Spille area in Kavaja," said Olsi Nika, director of "Eco Albania."
"The rate of erosion is absolutely alarming and conditions the transient coastal habitats as well as having an irreversible impact on coastal species and habitats," Nika added.
Naim Ndroqi, a 62-year-old from Tirana, goes fishing every weekend in Malin e Robit and throws his nets into the sea in the early hours of the morning. But he rarely catches any fish and blames the change in the coast for it.
"I go fishing early in the morning until evening. It's my passion, but there are no more fish. With these changes in the sea, there are no more fish," he complained.
Just like in Golem, the damage caused by winter is evident in Mali i Robit too. Part of the promenade has been damaged, including some electricity pylons by the sea.
The Municipality of Kavaja confirmed the damage to the promenade as a result of erosion and added that there was no office or appropriate specialists dealing with these issues.
"A part of the promenade in Mali i Robit has been damaged due to erosion," the Municipality of Kavaja said in a response to BIRN after an official request.
According to the Municipality, erosion has been observed in Malin e Robit and in the Karpen area.
Even the Managed Natural Reserve in Rrushkull, with an area of 565 hectares, is facing erosion, resulting in the erosion of 75 hectares of land from the sea. The National Agency for Protected Areas considers erosion as the main problem for the Reserve.
For expert Olsi Nika, the case of Rrushkull is worrying not only because of the erosion rate but also the change in the coastline.
"The case of the Rrushkull area, where the sea advances towards the land at an alarming rate of up to 2 meters per year. This rate of erosion undoubtedly affects the definition of the coastline and certainly the loss of transient coastal habitats," said Nika.
Despite the significant and repeated damage, the phenomenon of erosion is being neglected by local and central institutions.
The Municipality of Durrës told BIRN that it did not have data on coastal erosion, while the Prefect's institution said that this issue was not within its field of action.
However, such approaches are criticized by experts who consider erosion not only a natural phenomenon but also caused by human activity.
Olsi Nika from "Eco Albania" says that the exploitation of riverbeds for the benefit of the construction industry has already brought consequences for the Adriatic coastline, including the area between Durrës and Kavajë.
"...The main reason is the excavation and extraction of sediments from the Ishëm and Erzen rivers to supply the construction industry," said Nika.
The urbanization of the coastline also has a significant impact as a result of construction.
"On the other hand, the destruction of coastal dunes to open up the coast for urbanization in this area has had a negative impact by removing the last barrier against erosion," concludes Nika.