Bulgaria: Experts see opportunities in marine aquaculture
The Bulgarian fishery sector has been modernized over time. Almost the entire Bulgarian catch is for export, as the water in the Black Sea has a unique biochemistry and the products are delicious. The production of Bulgarian companies sells well on the European market and outside of Europe. One-third of Bulgaria's sprat is sold in Europe, as well as nearly half of the carp and one-third of the trout. Half the catch of black mussels is exported, as well as the entire production of white mussels, while rapanas are sought after on the Asian market.
Scientific research in the Black Sea needs to be developed and intensified further, said the Chairman of the BG Fish Association of Fish Products Producers, Dr. Yordan Gospodinov, in an interview for BTA after a meeting of the Black Sea Advisory Committee held in Varna.
The meeting was attended by representatives of Bulgarian state institutions and the European Commission. There are a total of eight Advisory Committees in Europe, the Black Sea one is based in Varna.
Scientists need to find out precisely what quantities of fish, mussels and rapanas are available in the Black Sea, Dr. Gospodinov pointed out, adding that the members of BG Fish are willing to allow experts onboard their vessels to facilitate the gathering of data.
The Bulgarian fishery sector has been modernized over time. Almost the entire Bulgarian catch is for export, as the water in the Black Sea has a unique biochemistry and the products are delicious. The production of Bulgarian companies sells well on the European market and outside of Europe. One-third of Bulgaria's sprat is sold in Europe, as well as nearly half of the carp and one-third of the trout. Half the catch of black mussels is exported, as well as the entire production of white mussels, while rapanas are sought after on the Asian market.
Over the last few months, there has been a discussion about enclosing zones at sea in order to regulate fishing spots with good parameters where mussels can be picked directly, thus saving time for the business.
The current practices in Bulgaria differ from those in Europe where mussels are out on the market on the day they were picked, while here they reach the market after three days of testing. Dr. Gospodinov said that BG Fish is actively cooperating with the Bulgarian Food Safety Agency (BFSA) to equip a modern laboratory and speed up the testing process.
With regards to the forthcoming adoption of Fishing Fleet Regulations, Dr. Gospodinov thinks they should be further refined in order to protect the interests of fishers and State alike. Currently, 1,860 fishing vessels are registered with Bulgaria's fishing fleet: 120 of them are ships, the rest are boats. It is expected that the fleet capacity should be maintained, i.e. if ten boats get decommissioned, then a ship can be registered in their place. On the other hand, the draft regulations provide that the state should have the right to revoke a vessel owner's license if they have not fished for a year. People working in the sector accept such a measure only if the vessel has been landed for three years or more.
According to Dr. Gospodinov, there are certain oversights in the current regulations on waste disposal as rapana shells are not included in the text. Thus, they fall into the "Others" category, instead of being directed toward waste depots and subsequently used as foundation materials for roads, alleys, houses, etc.
A growing number of organizations are warning that fish stocks are on the decrease around the world, but it turns out that is not the case with the Black Sea. Dr. Gospodinov said that the catch has been growing year on year and populations have been stable, but fish will always be a food in demand and overfishing is shaping new trends globally. Over the years to come, Europe's priority will be aquacultures, Dr. Gospodinov predicted.
The future lies in farming fish, mussels and seaweed, grown in their natural habitats, isolated into sea zones, encompassed by nets where various species of fish can be bred. These zones will not require much surface area, as they will be situated on the sea bottom and will not interfere with beach activities. Dr. Gospodinov is convinced that Bulgaria will soon start building such farms, as this is the only future for fishing.
Source: BTA Daily