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Viluni Gorge blocked/Fishermen and environmental experts on alert

2025-05-24 13:51:00, Aktualitet CNA

For almost 3 years, the Viluni Gorge on the beach of Velipoja has been blocked by sand that has not been cleaned. This blockage significantly damages the Viluni lagoon because fish do not circulate, and it also prevents fishermen from going out to sea with their boats. On the other hand, it also threatens flooding for homes near the lagoon….

"The blockage of the Viluni Gorge has been in this state for 3-4 years, blocked. Where we as fishermen have to go out with boats, it is completely shallow due to the blockage and it is impossible for us to go out to fish as usual. When the waves come, it pushes the sand back and thus the Viluni Gorge is blocked. This is a problem for us because we support our families through fishing. We have tried to open it ourselves with shovels, but it only lasts for 2 or 3 days and then it is blocked again. It is worrying for us because we cannot fish and we are left without receiving the family's money. We have no other income. Two days ago I walked here where the lagoon meets the sea water. It is very shallow and this is a problem for us. It causes great damage because as soon as it rains we risk drowning. Then, in addition to this, there is also the problem that we cannot fish because it is blocked."

For environmental expert Ervis Krymbi, the blockage of the Viluni Gorge on Velipoja beach is an early problem that damages the ecosystem and the livelihood of fishermen due to the lack of water circulation there...

"It is an old problem, repeated even before as a cause of blockage and consequently non-circulation of waters. It is very important to know that lagoons are the shock absorbers of water circulation. With the wide biodiversity that the area has, the large ecosystem, normally the non-circulation of waters for this area brings major problems. In addition to the ecosystem, it is also a problem for the livelihoods of the residents, especially those who deal with fishing issues," the environmental expert stated.

According to fishermen and environmental experts, the only way to clean the Viluni Gorge is through a special dredger ship used to deepen the waters...

"The estuaries are generally only cleaned with dredging because the sand material has to be removed and dissolved far into the sea. It has to be deepened because otherwise it deposits the sand material there again and thus becomes blocked. A dredging intervention would have been very necessary in the Viluni estuary. This would also be a call for the authorities to consider the intervention that needs to be made in this very delicate part here in the Viluni lagoon," said Ergys Krymbi.

About 6 months ago, the Regional Directorate of the Drainage Board in Lezha cleaned the Viluni Gorge using excavators, but that intervention was not effective, becoming blocked again after a short time and causing problems for fishermen./ CNA