site.btaBulgaria and Romania Raise Annual Turbot Quota 10% to 82.5 Tonnes

Bulgaria and Romania are raising their annual quotas for turbot in the Black Sea by 10% compared to the current amount allowed, the Bulgarian Ministry of Agriculture and Food reported on Wednesday. Over the next four years, each of the two countries will be allowed to catch up to 82.5 tonnes per year. In 2025, Bulgaria will be allowed to fish 90.26 tonnes due to the transferred unused quota for 2023.

The current European sprat quota of just over 8,000 tonnes per year will be maintained, which transpired during a meeting of the EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council in Brussels. Deputy Agriculture and Food Minister Lozana Vasileva expressed her satisfaction with the progress made in the management of fishery resources in the Black Sea. She reported that European sprat stocks are being managed sustainably and that there is a positive trend for turbot. "Our country will continue to work for sustainable fisheries through joint actions with the Black Sea countries," Vasileva said.

The Council also discussed the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) after 2027. The Deputy Minister stressed the need for an adequate CAP budget to ensure a fair level of support, so that farmers in the EU are on an equal footing.

The agenda included initiatives for the development of the bioeconomy with Bulgaria supporting the proposal to have a European bioeconomy pact established.