ALBANIA: Albanian fishermen say it is impossible for them to make a living, one year on from law banning motor boats

One year after Albania banned speedboats in a bid to crack down on drug smugglers and illegal immigrants, Albanian fishermen say they are suffering. The Albanian coast has long been used as a transit point for drugs smugglers and illegal migrants from Albania, other countries in eastern Europe and even as far afield as Asia, heading for Italy and western Europe. At the time of its introduction, the Albanian Prime Minister, Sali Berisha said the new law would allow coastguards to fire at smugglers, and illegal immigrants would be extradited immediately. Hundreds of thousands have left Albania in search of a better life since communism collapsed in 1990. Initially using stolen freighters, hopeful migrants then turned to Zodiac-type speedboats, which are smaller and less likely to be detected. But fishermen say they should not be forced to pay the price of the new measures banning motorised craft. Some say, they are now not even able to use boats at all and are forced to fish using tyres. "For more than ten days we have been fishing using tyres, just so we can provide our families with basic food, as we are not allowed to use our boats," said fisherman Leonard Teneqexhiu. "We have the right to use boats and fish with boats. We have paid the taxes. The government should solve this situation, because the winter is coming and we can't go on like this... Someone could drown in the sea and the government should take responsibility. We don't know anything other than fishing, but if the government provided us with other employment, we would do anything," Teneqexhiu said. "I have a family of six to provide for. Can I do that with just these two fish? No way. We could hardly provide for our families with those primitive boats we used to have, so how can we do it with these tyres. We have no permission to use them anymore. Everything that floats is prohibited," said another fisherman, Klodjan Baci. Albania intends to ban speedboats for at least another two years.

ITN Source | July 28, 2006

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