site.bta90% of Bulgarian Sprat Catch Is Exported, Says Association of Fish Products Producers

At least 90% of sprat caught by Bulgarian fishermen in the Black Sea is exported, the biggest market being Portugal, Yordan Gospodinov, Executive Director of the Association of Fish Products Producers, said on Friday. 

"Black Sea fish species are very valuable because of the sea's specific biochemistry - the water is sweeter. In addition to sea fish, we export chilled and frozen trout to the whole of Europe," said Gospodinov.

The export of sea snails to countries like China, South Korea and Japan is stable, but sea snails in the Black Sea are becoming smaller. "We believe that the catch has reduced the number of sea snails. On the other hand, the overpopulation of the species has destroyed the feeding habitat to some extent. We import sea snails from Romania. Bulgarian companies also operate there, and Bulgarian ships sail under the Romanian flag. We catch sea snails there because we must honour export contracts with Asian countries," Gospodinov said.

The high temperatures this summer are pushing the fish further into the sea because the water there is cooler. "The fish are hiding, looking for normal temperatures like any living organism. That is why fishermen have to go to sea earlier in the morning," he said.