This article was featured in Eurofish Magazine 5 2025.
In the Adriatic Sea around one of the largest cities in Albania, it is feared that fish stocks have declined by 70%. Vlore and surrounding areas are being severely impacted by rising sea temperatures that threaten the survival of fish. Reshat Xhelilah, an official in Vlore, says that in 2025 the temperature of waters may exceed that of 2024, which was 30.5 degrees C. These rising temperatures can be attributed to climate change, which make it difficult for many marine organisms to reproduce and grow, particularly those adapted for cooler waters. Nexhip Hysolokaj of Tirana’s Polis University says that at least a dozen invasive fish species are out-competing local species that are important to the marine food web. With populations of essential fish declining, parts of Albania’s fishing industry are under threat.
