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Life among the waves of Lake Pogradec/ Fisherman Safet Sulollari's story for CNA

2025-07-10 18:06:00, Qyteti im CNA

Life among the waves of Lake Pogradec/ Fisherman Safet Sulollari's story

On the quiet shores of Lake Pogradec, where morning dawns with the gentle sound of waves, a way of life that has withstood the test of time still thrives: fishing. For fishermen like Safet Sulollari, fishing is a daily, tiring and increasingly challenging reality.

After the 1990s, when political changes brought the end of state-owned enterprises, many local residents found themselves turning to the lake for survival. Until then, fishing was not allowed, and control on the lake shores was strict. But with the fall of the system, everything changed and fishing became an important source of income for local families.

"We got the idea at the beginning when the system collapsed, the companies collapsed because during the communist era, fishing was not allowed. Even the soldiers wouldn't let you here by the lake, but after 1990-1991, they opened up and we started fishing. There was enough fish, we caught a lot. The economy was very good then, there was abundance and the fish were undisturbed," says Sulollari.

Life among the waves of Lake Pogradec/ Fisherman Safet Sulollari's story

For many like Safeti, fishing did not begin as a profession, but as an early passion banned during communism . He had grown up near the lake, where every day he had built an irreplaceable connection with nature and water. He learned the lessons himself, following his intuition and building experience over time.

"I learned it myself as a child. We grew up here by the lake, we have our house here, we had a passion for it since the communist era. We would hunt secretly with a small net, because it wasn't allowed," says Sulollari.

Fishing on the lake, although it may seem calm, carries great risks. Storms that suddenly hit the lake require experience and wisdom to maneuver the boat, because a small mistake can be fatal. Therefore, every time you go out on the water, you are faced with the unexpected.

"It's difficult, especially when you get caught in a storm, you have to know how to maneuver and hold the boat. There's a big risk because you'll drown if you don't know how to hold it," he says.

Life among the waves of Lake Pogradec/ Fisherman Safet Sulollari's story

Fishing techniques have evolved over time, from simple hooks to specialized nets. Legality has also evolved, establishing rules to preserve aquatic resources. Fishermen have adapted to these rules, equipping themselves with the necessary permits and turning the craft into a regular activity.

"At first we fished with hooks, because we caught a lot with hooks. Then with nets, we have permits for both nets and hooks. At first there were no permits, but until the system was regulated, it was tightened a bit and they started issuing all the permits," says the fisherman.

Recent years have brought drastic changes in the quantity of fish in the lake. From once catching hundreds of quintals, today fishermen are faced with modest results, often insufficient to justify the effort. The cause, according to Safeti, is overfishing over the years and the lack of proper control over the lake.

Life among the waves of Lake Pogradec/ Fisherman Safet Sulollari's story

"In previous years the situation was very good, but now it is very poor. It is no longer manageable, there is not much. There was a lot of hunting over the years and production has decreased. No matter how much the OMP increases it by throwing the rasat, there is still little production. In previous years we caught a quintal, but now we catch grams, half a kg, 1 kg and sometimes not at all," says Sulollari.

Among all the fish species found here, the koran remains the most special. This rare fish, which grows naturally only in Pogradec and in a remote area in Russia, is one of the gastronomic treasures of the area. Sought after in local restaurants, the koran remains a symbol of the wealth that this lake can offer, if properly protected.

"Here is a rare fish, the koran. It is very good and they prefer it a lot. There are only two places in the world where koran grows, one in Russia and one here in Pogradec. Restaurants here cook it in a pan or fried, it depends on how people like it," says the fisherman.

Life among the waves of Lake Pogradec/ Fisherman Safet Sulollari's story

When we ask him if Safet has left an heir for this profession, he says that he only has two daughters, but even if he had a son, he doesn't think he would inherit it.

"Oh no, I have two daughters. I didn't have a son to inherit from. But it's no longer a sport to leave an inheritance, it's not worth it anymore," he says.

At the end of the day, a fisherman's story is much more than a personal story. It is a testament to a fading era, to a deep connection between man and nature, and to the need to reflect on how we care for our natural resources. In Pogradec, life on the waves is still alive, but increasingly fragile./CNA