Lezha

The spot is located 4.2 km away from Shengjin town or 10 minutes by car. The distance from Tirana city is 74.5 km away or 1 hour and 31 minutes by car. It is 53.3 km from Rinas Airport and takes 1 hour and 5 minutes driving over there. The distance from Lezha city is 11.6 km and it takes 24 minutes by car. You can fish here bream, sea bass, mullet, garfish, see fish, anchovy, sardines, etc. As you fish you face the sea. From the south, you can see part of the beaches along the Shengjin-Kune road, the island of Kune, while to the north many beaches of Velipoja coast.

You should always make sure you are 200 meters away from holidaymakers if you fish there during the summer season. If you continue to go further north, vacationers become more and more rare. You can choose to walk a few meters north in the direction of Rrjolli, and you will find yourself in a part on the coast that is never frequented by vacationers. The chances of catching fish are evenly along the coastline of almost 1 km and without being disturbed by the presence of others.

During summer there are plenty of restaurants and bars to spend some time and have a meal. You can find all types of cuisines, starting from traditional fast food such as pies, waffles, pancake and even fish dishes. Rana e Hedhun is among the favorite beach spots for thousands of vacationers during summer and quite a favorite for jogging in other seasons. If you are going to dive into the sea, the water can be cold especially in the last days of August because of the sea currents. But you might try to go for a stroll along the seashore almost 2 km long.

Reminder:

For sport, underwater and tourist fishing, you should possess an authorization from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development through "e-albania" platform. For recreational fishing on the sea shores, canals or rivers, receive an authorization from the municipality that covers the area through "e albania" platform.

For recreational fishing within the areas managed by Fisheries Management Organization (FMO) you must obtain a permit from the FMO administrators, for a minimal fee and only during the seasons when fishing is permitted.

Recreational and sport fishing rules

During recreational fishing, the following fishing gears are used: a) no more than 2 rods per fisherman and no more than 3 hooks per rod; b) no more than 10 hand hooks per fisherman; c) small hand net. The fisherman brings in no more than 5 kg of fish per day and this amount can be exceeded if a single fish weighs more than 5 kg is caught.

The recreational fishing is done based on strict rules for those endangered species, such as eel, garfish and red tuna. During recreational fishing, it is not allowed to kill the spawning fish.

The request for recreational fishing permit is completed online through the e-Albania portal, at the link: https://e-albania.al/. The permit is issued through the e-Albania portal upon payment of a certain fee.

Tourist fishing rules:

Tourist fishing means the activities undertaken by any individual or owner of a vessel, who embarks on his vessel other persons, except the crew, for the performance of tourist-entertainment activities.

The tourist fishing is carried out by professional fishermen or recreational fishing professionals with Albanian-flagged fishing vessel and vessels for recreational purposes with Albanian or foreign flags, based on country”s legislation.

Tourist fishing includes: a) carrying out practical recreational fishing activities through the use of fishing gears provided in this regulation; b) carrying out recreational tourist activities, with the aim of spreading and developing fishing activity, such as, in particular, short trips along the coasts, observation of professional fishing activities, restaurant on board or on shore; c) carrying out activities aimed at knowing and improving sea environment, lagoons and inland waters, with the authorization of the competent authority , as well as familiarizing the general public with commercial fishing activity.

During tourist fishing activity in marine waters, the following fishing gears are used: a) no more than 3 traps per vessel; b) fishing sinkers with a perimeter of no more than 16 meters or with a diameter of less than 5 meters; c) collection by hand, without using fishing tools and additional means, of crustaceans and molluscs.

The activity of tourist fishing is carried out only by means of a permit issued by Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD). The permit for tourist fishing is short-term and is granted for the period according to the submitted request, but not more than 30 days.

Rules of sport fishing:

Sport fishing in the sea and inland waters is carried out by the organizing association through the authorization issued by the MARD.

The request to receive the permit for sport fishing is completed by a representative of the association, online on the e-Albania portal, in e-Services of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, in the space "Application to receive a permit for recreational fishing ", for at least 10 (ten) days before the date set for the start of the activity. The request is made by filling out the request form with the following data: a) the data of the representative of the association (name, surname; date of birth; citizenship; passport or identity card number); b) the data of the association (name and NIPT/if any); c) the area where the activity will take place; ç) the date and time of the activity;

In the case when the request is made by a representative of the association, the permit of the association by the applicant must be uploaded. When the sport fishing activity is carried out in co-management areas, the representative of the association uploads a copy of the approval document from the relevant Fisheries Management Organizations. The permit for sport fishing is issued free of charge through the e-Albania portal and within 7 (seven) working days, after verification of the fulfillment of the technical criteria.

Rules for amateur and underwater fishing:

Amateur fishing is non-commercial one, unorganized fishing carried out in leisure time with hooks or other fishing gear, but without the use of a vessel.

During amateur and underwater fishing activity, in addition to the gears mentioned in point 2, of chapter I of this regulation, it is allowed to use, in all water categories, the following fishing gears: a) hand spear; b) spear fishing gun.

The request to receive a permit for amateur and underwater fishing is completed online in the e-Albania portal, in e-Services, in the "Application to be provided with an authorization for recreational fishing purposes" space, by completing the request form and upload the following documentation: a) photo of the applicant; b) proof of membership in a national recreational fishing association.

The authorization is issued by the body of the local self-government unit, through the e-Albania portal, within 3 (three) working days, after verification of the fulfillment of the technical criteria.

In internal waters, declared as co-management areas, the request for amateur fishing is presented to the organization responsible for co-management, which is the competent authority that verifies the fulfillment of the permit criteria and issues the corresponding authorization. Amateur fishing is not allowed in ponds for agricultural use, for which a contract has been signed for the development of spawning /fishing activities, as well as in mouth of the lagoons.

Fishing time, fish and marine species that are prohibited to be fished:

It is prohibited to use trawlers, St. Andrew's crosses or similar devices, which are used to collect red coral and other types of coral or other coral-like organisms; pneumatic hammers or other impact devices for collection, especially of bivalve molluscs embedded in the rock (dater); e) collecting bottom nets with an opening size of less than 40 mm for trawlers. Fishing is prohibited in the port area and anchorage areas.

Prohibited: a) fishing during the period from sunset to dawn; b) spearfishing by persons under 16 years of age; c) selling fish caught during this activity.

It is prohibited to fish, keep on board, transit in boats and ships, landing for the purposes and selling on the market or for consumption, in any period, area and with any type of means or equipment of these aquatic organisms: a) River Trout - Salmo letnica lumi ; b) Sturgeon - Acipenser sturio; c) Sharks - Cetorhinus maximus, Carcharodon carcharias; ç) Lesser devil ray - Mobula mobular; d) Stone cutter (dater) - Lithophaga lithophaga; dh) Corals (Corallium spp.); e) Sponges (spongidae); ë) Sea mammals; f) Sea turtles; g) Sea cucumbers.

Length of fish allowed catch, minimum dimensions

(Scientific name, Albanian name, minimum dimension)

1. Fishes

• Dicentrarchus labrax sea bass 25 cm
• Diplodus annularis Annular sea bream 12 cm
• Diplodus puntazzo Sheep head bream 18 cm
• Diplodus sargus white sea bream 23 cm
• Diplodus vulgaris common two-banded sea bream 18 cm
• Engraulis engrasicolus European anchovy 9 cm
• Epinephelus spp. Grouper 45 cm
• Lithognathus mormyrus sand steen brass 20 cm
• Merluçius merluçius *** Cod 20 cm
• Mullus spp. Red mullet 11 cm
• Pagellus acarne Axillary sea bream 17 cm
• Pagellus bogaraveo black spot sea bream 33 cm
• Pagellus erythrinus common Pandora 15 cm
• Pagrus pagrus red porgy 18 cm
• Polyprion americanus wreck fish 45 cm
• Sardina pilchardus ** European sardine 11 cm
• Scomber spp. Scomber 18 cm
• Solea vulgaris common sole 20 cm
• Sparus aurata gilt head bream 20 cm
• Trachurus spp. Mackerel 15 cm

2. Crustaceans

• Hommarus gammarus European lobster 105 mm CL, 300 mm TL
• Nephrops norvegicus Norway lobster 20 mm CL, 70 mm TL
• Palinuridae spiny lobster 90 mm CL
• Parapenaeus longirostris pink shrimp 20 mm CL

3. Bivalve molluscs

• Pecten jacobeus Mediterranean scallop 10 cm
• Venerupis spp. Carpet shell 25 mm
• Venus spp. Venus clams 25mm

TL – Total Length; CL – Height of karapaksit

(Law, Nr. 402, datë 8.5.2013)

Penalties, you will be fined for these violations:

1. Disposal of liquid or solid waste that creates negative effects on the quality of the aquatic environment,
2. The release of non-native fish species and/or other aquatic organisms, genetically modified fish species or other aquatic organisms, in the maritime space and in internal waters, is punishable by a fine from 100,000 ALL to 500,000 ALL.
3. Underwater activities, aimed at fishing in places where permission has not been previously obtained from the responsible management authority, are punished with a fine from 10,000 ALL to 50,000 ALL.
4. Catching species of fish and other aquatic organisms that are not mature enough to reproduce or with sizes beyond those provided for in the by-laws, is punishable by a fine from 100,000 ALL to 500,000 ALL.
5. Fishing and taking or ruining fauna and flora in protected water areas are punishable by a fine from 200,000 ALL to 1,000,000 ALL.
6. Catching fish and other aquatic organisms in violation to the order that prohibits fishing, out of season or in areas where fishing is not allowed, is punishable by a fine from 200,000 ALL to 1,000,000 ALL.
7. Catching fish and other aquatic organisms with explosives, chemical substances or any other way that kills, intoxicates or poisons, is punishable by a fine from 1,000,000 to 5,000,000 ALL.
8. Keeping on board or on shore explosives or chemical substances that kill, poison or intoxicate fish and other aquatic organisms is punishable by a fine from 500,000 to 2,500,000 ALL.
9. Recreational fishing in violation to the law (In no case and for any reason, the recreational fishing must not interfere, hinder, endanger or make commercial fishing difficult), is punishable by a fine, from ALL 5,000 to ALL 10,000.
10. The catching and/or trade of fish and other aquatic organisms treated with explosives, chemical substances or any other way that kills, intoxicates or poisons, is punishable by a fine from 100,000 to 500,000 ALL.
11. Amateur fishing, without being equipped with the relevant authorization, is punished by a fine of 500 to 1,000 ALL, while in the case of tourist fishing, without being equipped with the relevant authorization, is punished with a fine of 50 000 ALL to 100,000 ALL.
12. Recreational fishing contrary to the provisions of Article 45 of this law, (a) fishing during the period from sunset to dawn; b) spear fishing by persons under 16 years of age; c) the sale of fish caught during this activity) is punishable by a fine: a) from 5,000 to 10,000 ALL without a vessel; b) from ALL 50,000 to ALL 100,000 in case a vessel is used to commit the violation.

The guide was prepared by the Center for Transparency and Freedom Information in the framework of the project "Identification and promotion of recreational and tourist fishing destinations in the coastal area of Durres and Lezha counties", supported by PNUD Albania.