The Albanian marine capture fisheries: a social survey and economic aspects of the sector

This document introduces the outcomes resulting from the AdriaMed Social Survey of Albanian Marine Fisheries that was carried out in 2003 in order to gain a detailed insight into the social context of the Albanian fisheries. The socio-economic aspects considered were characterized within three fields: 1) personal data, 2) maritime district characteristics and relations, and 3) crew working conditions and fishing strategies. A total sample size of 183 fishers was interviewed (561 questionnaires) from 67 fishing vessels (30% coverage). The survey provided the fisheries management authority with an analytical tool for: the identification of the target groups and the livelihood of the fishers; the identification of the motivation of the resource users; the evaluation of the working conditions and fishing strategies; the understanding of the characteristics and the relations within and between the maritime districts; the business practices and strategy. Moreover, the study allowed an analysis of the fisher intergenerational dynamics, the interrelation between the various roles within the crew structure and the perception of strengths and weaknesses in the sector, within each maritime district and between the districts. The objectives, the methodological approach and the structure of the survey are presented. Some considerations on the methodologies applied and results are also given.