Cape Rodoni is a spectacular strip of land entering the Adriatic Sea. Located about 30km north of Durres and 30km south of the border between Albania and Montenegro, it is the outermost peninsula of Albania at the north of Durres. All around, the landscape is typical of the Mediterranean maquis, with its unique colours and scents. The cape itself is a geological formation of Miocene sandstone-clay banks, strongly eroded and generally barren. The area is peculiar and of great interest for scientific research on marine ecosystems.
An accumulative sandy coastline characterizes this part of the coast of Albania. The seabed within the bay is entirely silty and sandy: all homogeneous and flat without particular pre-coralligenous or coralligenous habitats. The two rivers and the lagoons have a strong influence on the shape of the coast and the sea bottom. The estuaries often change their position and can feed alternatively the sea or the lagoon located between them. Furthermore, the rivers' movements create instability of the coast with subsequent erosion and accretion periods, making the coastal area less safe for boat navigation or mooring.
The marine survey conducted in Patok-Rodoni Bay, Albania, in Autumn 2020, within the framework of the GEF Adriatic Project and implemented in Albania and Montenegro by UNEP-MAP Coordinating Unit with PAP/RAC and SPA/RAC, was the first one of its kind in Albania. Following the Barcelona Convention's Integrated Monitoring and Assessment Programme (IMAP), it aimed at assessing several Ecological Objectives at once. The great biodiversity values in the area make Cape Rodoni one of the best coastal sites candidates for future Marine Protected Area (MPA).
The marine survey has been documented in this video where all key players explain the activities and the outcomes.
The GES assessment of the marine and coastal environment in Albania was conducted adopting the Integrated Monitoring and Assessment Programme (IMAP) and related criteria. This is the first attempt to assess GES in Albania, which implies an integrated approach focused on the different Ecological Objectives.
The main findings of this assessment suggest that, at the time being, it is not possible to estimate GES for most of the Ecological Objectives and their indicators, due mainly to lack of or insufficient data (especially regarding long-term data series) and in baseline knowledge. However, the present attempt to assess GES has provided some important preliminary insights into the status of benthic and pelagic habitats in Albania's marine area. It also highlights significant signs of pressures regarding contaminants (EO9) and marine litter (EO10).
Assessments based on monitoring data need effective practical mechanisms for handling the data. Such mechanisms ensure that documents, data, and products are managed consistently and are made easily available to national users. For this reason, the GEF project developed a GIS application and info web system that enables the storing, assessing and reporting of data collected during national marine monitoring in Albania and Montenegro. The system in both countries is fully based on IMAP Info standards, enabling easy reporting to the IMAP INFO system.
The system is organised around ecological objectives and their agreed common indicators, and collects a significant amount of information to enable integrated assessments of the different monitored components. The programme offers georeferenced spatial information and trends for each assessed parameter in each monitoring location.
Although the system is structured around a significant number of data requirements, it is simple to use thanks to its predefined elements which facilitate quick and easy reporting. Importantly, all the data is checked by experts as it enters the system – only verified data is used. The Albanian and Montenegrin web GIS applications and info systems enable easy export of this verified data to the IMAP Info system, which allows both countries to fulfil their national monitoring commitments under the Barcelona Convention.
In Albania, the first data sets uploaded to the info system are from the Patok Rodoni Bay marine survey, which was implemented within the GEF Adriatic Project. Montenegro has included broader sets of data from its national monitoring programmes since 2016, including a GEF Adriatic project marine survey. Along with some data from 2009, there is a total of 14,702 records.
We have created a short web tutorial to help national monitoring institutions across the Mediterranean manage their IMAP data. Produced in collaboration with the INFO/RAC, it provides guidance on how to report yearly monitoring data to the IMAP info system, and highlights some common mistakes to avoid.
You can view the video tutorial below.
The GES assessment of the marine and coastal environment in Montenegro was conducted adopting the Integrated Monitoring and Assessment Programme (IMAP) and related criteria. This is the
first attempt to assess GES in Montenegro using this methodology, and to apply an integrated approach which focuses on the different Ecological Objectives.
The main finding derived from this analysis is that, for the time being, a GES assessment can only be done partially, due to gaps or the small quantity of data and baseline knowledge available (especially regarding long-term data series). Despite this, some preliminary and indicative conclusions can be drawn. Regarding the components which were possible to assess (under E01, E05, E09, and E010), it appears that GES has been achieved under most indicators, with some exceptions under E09 and E010.
The Adriatic Sea is a unique environment. Enclosed between two peninsulas and bordered by 6 countries, it hosts a rich variety of species.
Many people base their livelihoods directly on marine resources, from fishermen to the tourism sector, and millions depend on the ecosystem services provided by the sea. But this precious environment is threatened by the impact of human activities: overfishing, litter, unsustainable tourism and climate change are among the factors that could hinder the future availability of resources for all.
Since natural resources are shared across borders and economic sectors, they should be managed collaboratively: in the GEF Adriatic project, we are working with different stakeholders to build a sustainable blue economy. We ask all those involved with the marine environment to unite and take action for its protection.
Researchers can shape marine resource management by supporting the implementation of tools such as the Integrated Monitoring and Assessment Programme, which makes it possible to base development opportunities on scientific knowledge and data. Furthermore, engaging citizens and policy makers in scientific research can be an effective way to mobilize more people to act for a sustainable sea.
Action by public authorities is essential to ensure that the impacts of human activities on the marine environment are minimized. Through regular contacts with scientists and diverse public actors, decision makers should ensure that they have an integrated view of all the stakes and issues, and they are aware of which ones need to be addressed with priority.
Any member of the public, from beach goers to fishermen, can have a positive impact on the marine environment. Being aware of the things we leave behind, from fishing nets to organic waste, and taking action to reduce all types of waste, helps to preserve natural habitats. Furthermore, we must always be aware of local regulations, especially in protected areas, to do our part to preserve places and species of great ecological value.
Coastal and marine areas are key resources for economic development in Albania, with tourism being an important and growing sector, especially on the Adriatic coast. Human activities, however, are both highly dependent on the health of the natural environment and the possible sources of its degradation. To ensure the future stability and resilience of marine ecosystems, it is important to understand the complex interrelationships between human and natural elements. For example: urban areas, industries, transport, fishing and tourism can generate waste, which can be released into the sea and in turn affect the productivity and quality of human activities themselves, such as tourism and fishing.
Identifying the main economic factors, pressures and impacts, as well as planning responses for their mitigation, are therefore important steps in assessing the state of the marine environment to achieve Good Environmental Status. These complex interactions should be evaluated continuously, in a cyclical process of review and discussion.
GEF Adriatic has mapped the interrelations between the different components of the marine and coastal ecosystem in Albania, both natural and human: the results are highlighted in the infographic below. It includes references to the eleven Ecological Objectives (EO) that determine the environmental status of a marine area, as defined by the the Integrated Monitoring and Assessment Programme of the Mediterranean Sea and Coast and Related Assessment Criteria (IMAP):
• EO1 – Biodiversity
• EO2 – Non-indigenous species
• EO3 – Harvest of commercially-exploited fish and shellfish
• EO4 – Food webs
• EO5 – Eutrophication
• EO6 – Sea-floor integrity
• EO7 – Hydrography
• EO8 – Coastal ecosystems and landscapes
• EO9 – Contaminants
• EO10 – Marine Litter
• EO11 – Energy, including underwater noise
In Montenegro, as in many coastal communities, the sea provides crucial resources to the country's economy and population. However, human activities and the environment interact within a complex network of interactions: the impacts and pressures we have on natural habitats and species can, in turn, generate ripple effects that recur and affect productivity of those same activities.
The GEF Adriatic project involves mobilising national teams of experts and policy makers, who need to work together to protect and preserve joint marine resources, in order to plan their sustainable use for present and future generations. As part of this endeavour, the project is undertaking assessments and providing the necessary recommendations for the achievement of Good Environmental Status of the marine and coastal environment in Albania and Montenegro.
A Good Environmental Status can be achieved by focusing on scientifically agreed environmental targets related to mitigating impacts of pressures coming from human activities and minimizing these pressures themselves; all in order to improve the overall health of the marine ecosystems.
GEF Adriatic has mapped the interrelationships between the different components of the marine and coastal ecosystem in Montenegro, both natural and human: the results are highlighted in the infographic below. It includes references to the eleven Ecological Objectives (EO) that determine the environmental status of a marine area, as defined by the the Integrated Monitoring and Assessment Programme of the Mediterranean Sea and Coast and Related Assessment Criteria (IMAP):
• EO1 – Biodiversity
• EO2 – Non-indigenous species
• EO3 – Harvest of commercially-exploited fish and shellfish
• EO4 – Food webs
• EO5 – Eutrophication
• EO6 – Sea-floor integrity
• EO7 – Hydrography
• EO8 – Coastal ecosystems and landscapes
• EO9 – Contaminants
• EO10 – Marine Litter
• EO11 – Energy, including underwater noise
