25.1 Introduction
Bulgaria has a coastline of 378 km length on the Black Sea and has land frontiers
with Turkey, Greece, FYR of Macedonia, Serbia and Romania. Its territorial sea
extends out to 12 nm and has an area of 6506 km
2 , the area of the continental shelf
extending from the coastline of Bulgaria is 10,886 km
2 and the country’s Exclusive
Economic Zone in the Black Sea is about 25,699 km
2 (Anon 2006a, b). Most of the
fishing activities are carried out in territorial waters. The main ports used by
fishermen for landing catches are in Baltchik, Burgas, Varna, Sozopol and
Nessebar. The Bulgarian fishing fleet consists of 1994 vessels (EC fleet register,
2013) with a total of 6476 GT and 5544 kW. The fleet decreased compared to
previous years 2547 in 2008 and 2546 in 2007. The Bulgarian fleet operates
exclusively in the Black Sea and 95.28% of the Bulgarian vessels are <12 m length
and most of the vessels use set gillnets (anchored) as their preferred gear type. The
species composition of landing during the period 2001–2011 includes 36 species of
fish, mollusks and crustaceans. The most important target pelagic fish species are
European sprat (Sprattus sprattus), Mediterranean horse mackerel (Trachurus
mediterraneus) and Anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus). Demersal fish species
with commercial importance are – Turbot (Psetta maxima), Gobies (Gobiidae)
and Picked dogfish (Squalus acanthias). In the last decade from the molluscs
increasing commercial value has the Rapa whelk (Rapana venosa) (Anon 2007).
The Bulgarian marine fishery takes place in the Black Sea (GFCM Fishing
Sub-area 37.4 (Division 37.4.2), and Geographical Sub-area (GSA 29). The fishing
opportunities are limited by the specific characteristics of the Black Sea and the
exploitation of the fish resources is concentrated in the shelf area (depths under
100–110 m are anoxic). The main fishing grounds are coastal (to 30–40 m depth)
and offshore (to 100 m depths). Most of the fishing activities are carried out in
territorial waters (12 miles), but a significant part of fishing occurs up to 100 m
depth. Open (coastal) sea fishing practices are either demersal (by bottom-set
gillnets) or pelagic (by pelagic trawls), whereas in shallow waters close to the
coastline small scale fisheries are based on stationary trap nets, gillnets and hookand-line methods. Recreational fishing is also well developed. The information
about fleet, operating in Bulgarian Black Sea area, is recorded in the Fishing Vessel
Register (FVR), maintained by National Agency of Fisheries and Aquaculture
(NAFA). Fisheries Authorizations are granted each year and every eligible gear is
sealed by NAFA inspectors. The FVR contains data on registered fishing vessels
including their length, gross tonnage, maximum main engine power, registration
number, age of the vessel and owner, which is updated in real-time (COM 2010).
Most of the fishing activities are carried-out in territorial waters. The main ports
used by fishermen for landing catches are in Burgas, Varna, Baltchik, Sozopol,
Nessebar and seven fishing points (Fig. 25.1a). The number of fisherman varies, as
most of them are only partially engaged with such activities, since they have other
professions. The biggest number of fisherman is in area of Balchik, Kavarna, Varna,
414
V. St. Raykov and S. Nicheva
Bulgaria has a coastline of 378 km length on the Black Sea and has land frontiers
with Turkey, Greece, FYR of Macedonia, Serbia and Romania. Its territorial sea
extends out to 12 nm and has an area of 6506 km
2 , the area of the continental shelf
extending from the coastline of Bulgaria is 10,886 km
2 and the country’s Exclusive
Economic Zone in the Black Sea is about 25,699 km
2 (Anon 2006a, b). Most of the
fishing activities are carried out in territorial waters. The main ports used by
fishermen for landing catches are in Baltchik, Burgas, Varna, Sozopol and
Nessebar. The Bulgarian fishing fleet consists of 1994 vessels (EC fleet register,
2013) with a total of 6476 GT and 5544 kW. The fleet decreased compared to
previous years 2547 in 2008 and 2546 in 2007. The Bulgarian fleet operates
exclusively in the Black Sea and 95.28% of the Bulgarian vessels are <12 m length
and most of the vessels use set gillnets (anchored) as their preferred gear type. The
species composition of landing during the period 2001–2011 includes 36 species of
fish, mollusks and crustaceans. The most important target pelagic fish species are
European sprat (Sprattus sprattus), Mediterranean horse mackerel (Trachurus
mediterraneus) and Anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus). Demersal fish species
with commercial importance are – Turbot (Psetta maxima), Gobies (Gobiidae)
and Picked dogfish (Squalus acanthias). In the last decade from the molluscs
increasing commercial value has the Rapa whelk (Rapana venosa) (Anon 2007).
The Bulgarian marine fishery takes place in the Black Sea (GFCM Fishing
Sub-area 37.4 (Division 37.4.2), and Geographical Sub-area (GSA 29). The fishing
opportunities are limited by the specific characteristics of the Black Sea and the
exploitation of the fish resources is concentrated in the shelf area (depths under
100–110 m are anoxic). The main fishing grounds are coastal (to 30–40 m depth)
and offshore (to 100 m depths). Most of the fishing activities are carried out in
territorial waters (12 miles), but a significant part of fishing occurs up to 100 m
depth. Open (coastal) sea fishing practices are either demersal (by bottom-set
gillnets) or pelagic (by pelagic trawls), whereas in shallow waters close to the
coastline small scale fisheries are based on stationary trap nets, gillnets and hookand-line methods. Recreational fishing is also well developed. The information
about fleet, operating in Bulgarian Black Sea area, is recorded in the Fishing Vessel
Register (FVR), maintained by National Agency of Fisheries and Aquaculture
(NAFA). Fisheries Authorizations are granted each year and every eligible gear is
sealed by NAFA inspectors. The FVR contains data on registered fishing vessels
including their length, gross tonnage, maximum main engine power, registration
number, age of the vessel and owner, which is updated in real-time (COM 2010).
Most of the fishing activities are carried-out in territorial waters. The main ports
used by fishermen for landing catches are in Burgas, Varna, Baltchik, Sozopol,
Nessebar and seven fishing points (Fig. 25.1a). The number of fisherman varies, as
most of them are only partially engaged with such activities, since they have other
professions. The biggest number of fisherman is in area of Balchik, Kavarna, Varna,
414
V. St. Raykov and S. Nicheva