The waters of Karavasta, Narta and Butrint, the three main lagoons monitored during 2025, have been finally assessed as having eutrophic qualities. At least this is the result according to the State of the Environment Report of the National Environment Agency. This means that the waters present a high load of nutrients or organic materials, which can reduce water quality and worsen conditions for aquatic life. The indicators that lead to this assessment vary from one lagoon to another.
In the Karavasta Lagoon, the report highlights high chemical and biochemical oxygen demand, as well as high levels of nitrates and total phosphorus. These indicators place the lagoon in the eutrophic category and indicate an increased presence of substances that require oxygen to dissolve.
In the Narta Lagoon, the classification is mainly related to the high chemical and biochemical oxygen demand. Unlike Karavastaja, the nitrate level results within the limits used in the report, while the total organic carbon classifies the monitoring stations as “not good” quality. The high values of oxygen demand lead to the lagoon being assessed as eutrophic.
In Butrint, most of the indicators present a more moderate state. Water transparency and chemical and biochemical oxygen demand are classified as mesotrophic, while nitrates are classified as oligotrophic. The main problem is total phosphorus, the value of which leads the lagoon to the eutrophic classification. The report also notes a deterioration compared to 2024, when Butrint was assessed as mesotrophic.
The 2025 monitoring included measurements of water transparency, chemical and biochemical oxygen demand, nitrates, total phosphorus and organic carbon. The results vary according to the stations and depths where the samples were taken. Lagoons are important because they serve as feeding, breeding and shelter areas for fish, waterfowl and many other species. They support important links in the food chain, from small organisms and aquatic vegetation to fish and predatory birds. When water quality deteriorates, the impact can spread throughout this chain and reduce biodiversity. /Monitor
