A group of mussel farmers from Ksamil gathered in front of the Saranda Municipality to protest what they describe as a critical issue: the fate of the mussel industry. In a dramatic demonstration, they interrupted a City Council meeting and poured a bucket of mussels onto the floor, highlighting the urgency of their concerns.
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| A protester throwing a bucket of mussels at a Municipal Council meeting in Saranda |
Despite working in the industry for over 30 years, mussel farmers in Ksamil have been left without lease agreements for the past two years. There are approximately 73 mussel cultivators in the Butrint Lake area. Frustrated farmers question why Saranda is importing mussels from Spain when they have been producing them locally for decades.
Tour operator Soraldo Nebo, one of the protesters, expressed his concerns:
"We have come here multiple times to raise awareness about the situation in Butrint Lake, particularly regarding mussel farming. The lake’s environmental parameters have deteriorated, and this year we nearly lost the mussel spawn. Independent analyses have revealed a lack of dissolved oxygen in the water, indicating that fresh water from the Bistrica River is not flowing sufficiently into the lake. If this is the case even in winter, one can only imagine the impact when summer temperatures rise. We are calling on the municipality and the City Council to recognize the severity of the issue and work with us to advocate for a solution."
Butrint Lake’s delicate ecosystem relies on a balance of freshwater inflow from the Bistrica River and the saline waters from the south. This unique combination creates the perfect conditions for mussel cultivation. However, recent studies suggest that human negligence—rather than climate change—is responsible for the current environmental decline. Unlike shallow lagoons affected by global warming, Butrint Lake has depths reaching 19-21 meters, making it more resilient to temperature shifts.
Given that mussel farming is closely tied to tourism, the industry’s decline could have broader economic repercussions. Nebo, speaking as a tour operator, criticized the Saranda Municipality’s decision to replace the annual Mussel Festival with a general Fish Festival, arguing that it diminishes local farmers' ability to promote their product. He also pointed out that the municipality’s agricultural department is responsible for managing water drainage channels, pumping stations, and sewage treatment facilities, which directly impact the lake's ecosystem.
The farmers demand immediate action to restore Butrint Lake’s environmental balance and ensure the continuation of mussel farming—an industry that has been a cornerstone of local tradition and economy for decades.