Chapter 25
Governance and Socio Economic Implications
of the Black Sea Small Scale Fisheries
(Bulgaria)
Violin St. Raykov and Simona Nicheva
Abstract Characteristic of the Black Sea basin is that most of the fish occupy
extensive areas, located in the exclusive zone of several riparian countries. Current
Bulgarian marine fleet capacity comprises 2030 active fishing vessels. There are
1934 fishing boats less than 12 m representing 95.27% of all vessels. The majority
of the fleet (84%) are below 7.9 m in length. The main fishing grounds are coastal
(to 30–40 m depth) and offshore (to 100 m depths). In Bulgaria, it is more properly
to put the accent on the separate regulations of the fishery, instead of its integral
management. These regulations concerns in very small extension the shared fish
stocks, which are exploited without control, because of the restriction measures
absence. Much more different is the attitude concerning the so called “domestic fish
stocks” with some elements of management applied. But even such a scheme in
force remains imperfect, because of the insufficient control. Present policy regarding Bulgarian marine fishery is orientated to the production mainly, as far as the fish
protein in the country is not corresponding to the demands. Indicated production
orientated marine fishery, is stimulated by the lack of adequate management rules
of the fishing activities. Taking into consideration the entire existent EU regulations
and national legislation in force regarding the small scale fisheries, wider environmental, economic and social aspects in a balanced manner should be regarded.
Keywords Black Sea • Fishery • Regulations • Control • Management •
Environment • Social aspects • Balance
V. St. Raykov (*)
Institute of Oceanology – BAS, 40 Parvi Mai str., P.O.Box 152, 9000 Varna, Bulgaria
e-mail: vraykov@io-bas.bg
S. Nicheva
Executive Agency for Fisheries and Aquaculture, Bourgas, Bulgaria
© Springer International Publishing AG 2018
C.W. Finkl, C. Makowski (eds.), Diversity in Coastal Marine Sciences, Coastal
Research Library 23, DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-57577-3_25
413
Governance and Socio Economic Implications
of the Black Sea Small Scale Fisheries
(Bulgaria)
Violin St. Raykov and Simona Nicheva
Abstract Characteristic of the Black Sea basin is that most of the fish occupy
extensive areas, located in the exclusive zone of several riparian countries. Current
Bulgarian marine fleet capacity comprises 2030 active fishing vessels. There are
1934 fishing boats less than 12 m representing 95.27% of all vessels. The majority
of the fleet (84%) are below 7.9 m in length. The main fishing grounds are coastal
(to 30–40 m depth) and offshore (to 100 m depths). In Bulgaria, it is more properly
to put the accent on the separate regulations of the fishery, instead of its integral
management. These regulations concerns in very small extension the shared fish
stocks, which are exploited without control, because of the restriction measures
absence. Much more different is the attitude concerning the so called “domestic fish
stocks” with some elements of management applied. But even such a scheme in
force remains imperfect, because of the insufficient control. Present policy regarding Bulgarian marine fishery is orientated to the production mainly, as far as the fish
protein in the country is not corresponding to the demands. Indicated production
orientated marine fishery, is stimulated by the lack of adequate management rules
of the fishing activities. Taking into consideration the entire existent EU regulations
and national legislation in force regarding the small scale fisheries, wider environmental, economic and social aspects in a balanced manner should be regarded.
Keywords Black Sea • Fishery • Regulations • Control • Management •
Environment • Social aspects • Balance
V. St. Raykov (*)
Institute of Oceanology – BAS, 40 Parvi Mai str., P.O.Box 152, 9000 Varna, Bulgaria
e-mail: vraykov@io-bas.bg
S. Nicheva
Executive Agency for Fisheries and Aquaculture, Bourgas, Bulgaria
© Springer International Publishing AG 2018
C.W. Finkl, C. Makowski (eds.), Diversity in Coastal Marine Sciences, Coastal
Research Library 23, DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-57577-3_25
413