Albania, Potential for the Development of the Blue Economy

The purpose of this study is to help advance the vision of Albania in the Blue Economy, in the framework of the country's aim to join the EU. I will highlight the gaps in knowledge, the risks and deficiencies that our country has in the development of the economy in this field and the measures that the government should take to solve these problems. The most important sectors in the Blue Economy are: fishing, tourism, maritime transport and plastic pollution. The fishing, tourism and transport industries are the three most powerful industries that provide the highest return on investment, as part of the blue economy. These sectors have an important socio-economic and cultural role for coastal communities. A worrying issue facing these coastal areas is the challenges of marine plastic pollution, which require immediate solutions. I will reflect the specific circumstances of Albania and the opportunities arising from the integrated economic development of the maritime sectors. The main objective is to develop a future for "Blue Albania" and build a long-term innovative plan in these sectors. At the end of the study, I will draw up a clear picture of the economic activities that need to be undertaken to accelerate the development of the blue economy in our country Received: 25 September 2024 / Accepted: 24 November 2024 / Published: 3 December 2024