Catch boom in the Black Sea: Horse mackerel jumped by 200%, a rich bonito season is also expected

09.06.2026 | Region

A 200% increase in horse mackerel and a threefold increase in scorpion fish are reported by the Executive Agency for Fisheries and Aquaculture (EAFA) for the first five months of the year. What should tourists at the seaside expect?

Снимка от Zcebeci, Wikimedia Commons, под лиценз CC BY-SA 4.0

Record fish catch in the Black Sea

During the first five months of the year, Bulgarian fishermen have enjoyed exceptional results. According to data from the Executive Agency for Fisheries and Aquaculture (EAFA), the catch of horse mackerel has jumped by 200 percent compared to the same period last year. Dimitrina Chakarova from the Fish Resources Conservation Department announced that a positive trend is also observed in scorpion fish, where the catch is three times larger.

The sea is currently rich in anchovy, sprat, and horse mackerel. This is excellent news for restaurants along the coast, which will offer freshly caught fish to their guests throughout the summer season.

Trends and forecasts

This statistic is optimistic both for the industry and for tourists, who will be able to enjoy quality seafood without relying on frozen stocks from previous years.