New draft law on fishing, control of tree cutting

TIRANA, April 27 – The Albanian government has drafted a new law on fishing in an effort to modernize and develop that sector.
The new law will cover all that industry and will help to increase its production capacities. It will also better monitor the state of the fishing vessels. Fishing licenses will be valid for three years while penalties will be enforced through a points-based system.
In another move the Environment Ministry is also making efforts to put under regular control the tree cutting in the country. There are 225 companies licensed for tree cutting.
That promise was made this week at a conference held in Tirana on the occasion of Earth Day. Authorities also mentioned soil erosion, constructions in arable lands and fallow lands as other key issues of concern on environment in the tiny western Balkan country.