Bulgaria and Romania strengthen control over turbot fishing
Bulgarian institutions maintain intensive communication with their Romanian counterparts regarding regulations for turbot fishing in the Black Sea. The main focus of the discussions is on tightening oversight and the need for a more adaptive model in quota allocation.
"Implementing the Romanian model in our country faces serious legal and organizational obstacles due to the larger number of fishing vessels and ports in Bulgaria," stated Milen Dimitrov, Executive Director of IARA.
Main challenges facing the sector:
- Risk of unregulated fishing: Since not all applicants receive a quota, the danger of poaching remains high.
- Economic viability: High fuel and maintenance costs often make trips unprofitable for fishermen.
- Administrative capacity: Over 170 applications have been submitted for 2026, with only 120 permits issued.
Data on quotas and cooperation:
Last year, Bulgaria had a quota of 82.5 tons, with the remaining 3.8 tons carried over to the next period. Thus, the total quota for 2026 reaches 86.3 tons. Joint training and inspections are currently being conducted between Bulgarian and Romanian inspectors, aimed at better coordination in the Black Sea waters.