Water Quality and Chemical Situation on Vlora Bay, Adriatic Sea

In this study, physical-chemical parameters and the concentrations of some organic pollutants in seawater samples from Vlora Bay, which is situated in south-east Albania, Adriatic Sea, are presented. In the Bay of Vlora, there is intensive activity from shipping (ship transport, passengers, and import-export commerce), hydrocarbon activity, industrial activity in the area of Vlora, urban wastewater from the city and the surroundings of Vlora, as well as flows from the Vjosa River and other effluents that flow into this important ecosystem of Albania. In this natural bay, the main port in Albania, there are several ports, such as the port of Vlora, Petrolifera (a hydrocarbon port), the fishing port, the Delta Force port, the military base, etc. The marine water of the bay is affected mainly by pollution that comes from intensive ship transport and other activities near the port area. The water samples were taken in July 2022 at 12 different stations in Vlora Bay, starting from Petrolifera to Cold Water.