Agricultural University of Tirana (AUT) was founded in November 1, 1951 under the name “Higher State Agricultural Institute”. In 1991 it was named “Agricultural University of Tirana”.
Agricultural University of Tirana (AUT) is a unique center for education in the field of Agriculture in Albania.
The Aquaculture and Fisheries Laboratory
The Aquaculture and Fisheries Laboratory (ex-Fishing Research Institute) is a public body founded in 1970, the only marine research laboratory in Albania. Research activities conducted encompass aspects of sea exploration: chemical, biological parameters and fisheries. Nowadays the laboratory employs has about 13 permanent staff members and a number of University academic staff participating in cases of projects and researches, mostly researchers and PhD students. For research activities we have agreements with the fishing fleet vessels, which beyond their activity assist us for surveys and data collection for both coastal and open-sea waters. Laboratory income is part of the University budget.
Description of previous experience in national and international projects
- Assessment of demersal fish and shellfish stocks commercially exploited in Albania, Medits project.
- Participation in workshops of INTERREG IIIA Project for the Aquaculture in the Adriatic (AIA).
- Scientific cooperation to Support responsible Fisheries in the Adriatic Sea (ADRIAMED), FAO.
- Mediterranean International Bottom Trawl Survey EU (MEDITS).
In all above projects has been a participating member in contribution of collecting and exchanging data for the Albanian coast waters.
Contribution to the project
Collecting, analyzing and processing the data, inventorying, creation of a data base, and exchange of these data between the partners of the project for the ports of Durres and Vlore in Albania. The samples will be collected in port basins, anchorage road, from ballast tanks of ships coming from different parts of the world in any of the above mentioned Albanian ports.
Competence and capacity
The knowledge acquired within the previous projects will be used here, both on national and international level, via the knowhow of the experts in marine biology, laboratory analysis, fish researchers, university academic staff, independent marine surveyors, sea masters.
