Abstract

Aquaculture is representing one of the most attractive sectors in the Blue Economy sectors in Europe, recently. Globally, it is considered as a priority sector and the fastest growing socio-economic development branch of Agriculture. In Albania, the most profitable sub-sector of Aquaculture is represented by growing the European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax) and gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) by using sea-cages in the coastal areas of Albania, though recent initiatives are showing the development of off-shore Aquaculture. Based on the data reported by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the market value of this production sector (exclusively localized in the Ionian coast of Albania) is 6.1 million Euro; it results to be a promising sector for providing incomes and employment toward the coastal communities and the Albanian developing economy.