JPNPCG: For navigation on Lake Skadar, prescribe the use of a propulsion engine of up to 9,9 horsepower

The JPNPCG said that year after year, examples of irresponsible behavior of boating participants are registered in the field - from inappropriate and speeding driving to the use of high-power outboard motors on vessels that are not designed for this type of navigation. Disclaimer: The translations are mostly done through AI translator and might not be 100% accurate. The Public Enterprise for National Parks (JPNPCG) has proposed an amendment to the Law on Inland Navigation, which prescribes the use of propulsion engines of up to 9,9 horsepower (HP) for the Skadar Lake National Park area, with the possibility of issuing special permits for engines of higher power in justified cases. JPNPCG, within the procedure for amending the Law on Inland Navigation, submitted to the competent ministry a proposal for amendments to Article 22, which refers to navigation restrictions. "The proposal of the JPNPCG is that, when it comes to navigation in the area of ​​the Skadar Lake National Park, the limitation should be prescribed through the power of the propulsion engine up to 9,9 HP, with the possibility of issuing special permits for the use of higher-power engines in clearly defined and justified cases," the JPNPCG statement says. It is emphasized that such a proposal is the result of the experience of the JPNPCG as a protected area manager and the challenges that our services have been facing in the field for years. It is stated that Lake Skadar is an area of ​​exceptional natural values, but at the same time an area where various activities take place - from tourism and fishing to the daily life of the local population. "That is precisely why the goal of the proposed amendment is not to limit the use of the lake, but to establish a clearer, safer and more easily controlled navigation regime, adapted to the specificities of the national park," the statement says. The JPNPCG said that year after year, examples of irresponsible behavior of boating participants are registered in the field - from inappropriate and speeding driving to the use of high-power outboard motors on vessels that are not designed for this type of navigation. "Such behavior endangers not only those who operate vessels, but also other participants on the water, including swimmers, fishermen, tourist transporters and visitors to the National Park. That the problem is not only a matter of respecting the rules but also a matter of safety, is confirmed by the cases of serious accidents on Lake Skadar, including the tragic outcomes that occurred in previous years," the JPNPCG stated. As they said, a particular challenge is the fact that controlling the speed of vessels on a large and specific water surface such as Lake Skadar is difficult to reliably implement, especially without an appropriate system for measuring and recording speed. "Therefore, the JPNPCG believes that limiting engine power would be a simpler and more effective measure for field control. Such a solution would also contribute to the protection of the sensitive lake ecosystem. The use of vessels with high-power engines, especially when not adapted to the characteristics of the vessel and conditions on the lake, in addition to the safety aspect, can also have a negative impact on the natural values ​​of the National Park," said the JPNPCG. They stated that the proposal does not imply an absolute ban on higher-powered engines. "The JPNPCG proposed that for users with a justified need, the possibility of issuing special permits be envisaged, under clearly defined conditions, for a certain period of time and for pre-determined purposes," the statement added. It was explained that this would primarily apply to registered economic entities that legally transport passengers, licensed commercial fishermen with registered vessels, users who carry out scientific research activities, as well as other cases in which there is a justified public interest. "This would allow those who have a legitimate need to use vessels of greater power to continue to carry out their activities, but within a regulated and controlled system," the statement said. It is emphasized that the proposed amendment also has broader significance for the efficiency of National Park management. "Clearer conditions for the use of vessels would enable simpler control of space users and an easier distinction between those who carry out activities on the lake in accordance with regulations and those who use them irresponsibly or illegally," the statement said. It is concluded that the JPNPCG, as the manager of the Skadar Lake National Park, will continue to advocate solutions in the further procedure of amending the law that will enable the protection of nature and human safety to be the basis for regulating navigation on Skadar Lake, while at the same time preserving the possibility for the legal and sustainable use of this space. See more: Download the app and follow the news FOLLOW US ON