Otranto

Project overview

The Transboundary CAMP Otranto project was launched to test the CAMP methodology at a transboundary scale and to strengthen cooperation between Albania and Italy in managing the Otranto Strait — an ecologically significant marine and coastal area shared by both countries. Despite different legal, natural, and socio-economic contexts, Albania and Italy face common challenges that require coordinated planning and governance.

CAMP Otranto is the first transboundary project since the launch of the Coastal Area Management Programme in 1989.

Key objectives

CAMP Otranto focused on improving ICZM and MSP at local, national and cross-border levels, with the aim to:

reduce pollution, with a particular focus on marine litter
improve the sustainability of tourism activities
protect, conserve, and restore vulnerable coastal and marine ecosystems, including Natura 2000 sites
promote cross-sector coordination to support sustainability and resilience in the project regions of Vlora (Albania) and Puglia (Italy)

Main results

Project findings and recommendations are summarised in the project policy brief, grounded in four expert studies developed within the project’s framework:

Feasibility Study for Area-Based Management Tools (ABMTs) in the Otranto area
ICZM Methodological Guidance towards reaching Good Environmental Status (GES)
ICZM System and Audit Scheme (ICZM SAS)
Concept Note on Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) in Albania

These outputs — together with capacity-building actions and public outreach — contributed to securing a greener future for the Otranto Strait and paved the way for future transboundary initiatives in the Mediterranean.