Varna – In its bid to modernize and strengthen control over marine resources and fisheries, the Executive Agency for Fisheries and Aquaculture (IARA) will be equipped with new, state-of-the-art patrol vessels. They will be purchased through a major project financed by the Maritime Affairs, Fisheries and Aquaculture Program 2021-2027, the Varna Regional Information Center announced.
The total value of the project is an impressive 2,915,784.69 BGN. It aims to provide the agency with the necessary equipment for effective and comprehensive monitoring of the Black Sea. The new acquisitions will be key to combating illegal fishing and protecting delicate marine ecosystems.
This strategic decision comes in response to IARA"s long-standing need to renew its fleet. As early as last year, the agency"s executive director, Dr. Nikolay Georgiev, told the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA) that the management intended to seek funding from European funds, specifically for the acquisition of high-mobility vehicles and new patrol boats suitable for patrolling both the sea and the Danube River.
With the European funds, the agency will acquire a total of seven new patrol vessels. Three of them will be compact and fast, with a total length of 5.80 to 6 meters. Another three will be larger, with a length between 8.2 and 8.5 meters, which will allow them to cover wider areas. In addition, there will be specialized trailers that will ensure maximum mobility and coverage and optimize costs for both transporting the boats to various locations and their winter storage. The most significant acquisition, however, will be a large patrol vessel with a length of 10 to 11.5 meters, designed for patrolling up to 20 nautical miles from the coast, which will significantly expand IARA"s operational capabilities.
The agency"s existing fleet was in an extremely unsatisfactory condition. By the end of 2018, IARA had only three patrol boats, distributed among the coastal units in Burgas, Varna, and Dobrich. At present, the only vessel the agency has is 7.5 meters long, but due to its unsatisfactory technical condition, it cannot effectively perform its control functions. This situation often hinders inspectors in their efforts to ensure compliance with the law on the water.
The need to renew the equipment is particularly urgent, given the specifics of the Bulgarian fishing fleet. At the beginning of last year, it numbered 1,857 vessels, 95% of which were up to 12 meters long. This fact makes the use of old and outdated patrol boats not only ineffective, but also risky, and in some cases even impossible.
With the successful implementation of the project and the delivery of the new equipment, a much better and stricter monitoring is expected to be ensured. The new equipment will support the sustainable management of fish resources in the Black Sea, contributing to the fight against poaching and the preservation of biodiversity. The project is expected to be finalized by May 19, 2028.