Albanian Ornithological Society (AOS)
January 2025
The Strategic Investment Committee has approved the investor status for the development of a luxury tourist resort on Sazan Island, granting the project the designation of “Strategic Investment – Special Procedure” for a 10-year period. This decision paves the way for one of the most controversial tourism developments inside or adjacent to protected marine areas in Albania.
A Former Military Island Now a Tourism Frontier
The approved project, proposed by the U.S.-based company Atlantic Incubation Partners LLC, covers 45 hectares of Sazan Island a site with no basic infrastructure, a history of military use, and confirmed pyrotechnic risk. The plan includes elite accommodation units, high-standard residences, a marina, and hospitality facilities, all promoted as part of an “integrated tourism development.” The decision outlines the creation of a joint legal entity between the investor and the Albanian state, involving the Albanian Investment Corporation (AIC) and the Albanian Seaports Development Company (ASDC) as public partners. It also commits state institutions to support the project with accelerated procedures, access to public property, and facilitation of infrastructure including roads, energy, and waste services.
What the Approval Ignores
Sazan Island and its surrounding waters fall within the Karaburun-Sazan Marine National Park, declared by government decision in 2022. The area is recognized for its marine biodiversity, coral reefs, and natural monuments, including the “Barriera koralore e grykës së Djallit” and the “Faleza e Sazanit.” These are explicitly mentioned in the decision but only to state they should be excluded from direct construction activity. The broader ecological and zoning impact remains unaddressed. Notably absent from the approval is any completed Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) or transparent review of potential damage to the marine ecosystem, sea bird populations, or protected habitats. This omission violates key principles of Albania’s environmental law and raises questions about alignment with the EU Birds and Habitats Directives, at a time when Albania is under of the EU accession process.
A Risky Precedent
The AOS views this decision as a clear erosion of protected area governance, and part of a broader pattern where strategic investor laws are used to override environmental regulation. Although the project is subject to further procedural steps and the signing of a cooperation agreement, the approval in principle has already opened the door to irreversible transformation on an island of high ecological and symbolic value. This case sets a dangerous precedent: if strategic tourism investments are allowed inside Albania’s most sensitive natural areas, it is unclear which protected sites will remain off-limits in the future.
Why This Matters
The approval of the Sazan Island project is not just a legal matter. It is about the role of public land, the meaning of a protected area, and the future of conservation in Albania. It also raises fundamental questions about transparency, long-term planning, and Albania’s credibility in international environmental frameworks. The state’s commitment to help develop and adapt the island including decontaminating military remnants translates into public support for a private luxury development in a national park.
AOS’s Position
As the Albanian Ornithological Society (AOS), we believe this project directly undermines the purpose of protected area legislation and contradicts the principles of sustainable tourism. It reflects a growing trend of prioritizing short-term economic gain over long-term ecological integrity. We call for:
- Full public disclosure of environmental and feasibility assessments;
- Immediate publication of any biodiversity impact studies related to the project;
- Engagement with civil society and environmental experts in all further decision-making;
- Re-evaluation of the project’s compatibility with Albania’s environmental obligations under EU and international law.
- We also urge EU institutions, conservation networks, and independent journalists to monitor this case closely.
- Sazan Island is not just a development opportunity it is a test of how much Albania values its natural heritage.