Bulgaria's Executive Fishery Agency and Romanian officials met in Burgas to discuss working together in the Black Sea. The talks took place during the three-day annual conference for the Common Maritime Agenda for the Black Sea (CMA), hosted by the city.

The agency's executive director, Hristo Panayotov, welcomed deputy agriculture and food minister Professor Ivan Paligorov to Burgas. Romania sent Dragoş Simion, head of the National Fishery and Aquaculture Agency (ANPA), and Gabriel Popescu, director of maritime policy and inspections. Konstantin Petrov, chair of the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean and Black Sea (GFCM), also took part.

The talks covered how the fishery agency, the GFCM, ANPA and Ukraine's fishery and aquaculture agency could work together, along with regional cooperation and swapping know-how on managing, monitoring and checking fishing in the Black Sea.

Panayotov said the agency is ready to share its expertise and experience and build closer ties with Romania and Ukraine.

The conference brings together people from EU and national bodies, scientists, businesses and international organisations, who share experience and look for ways to develop and manage the Black Sea sustainably.