Fishing sector calls for state aid over drone strikes at sea

The fishing sector is facing force majeure circumstances and will seek state aid under the de minimis scheme, Yordan Gospodinov, executive director of the BG Fish association and chairman of the Black Sea Advisory Council, said in Varna, where the council is meeting today. According to him, drone strikes at sea have caused fish to disappear, dealing a further blow to the industry.

Gospodinov said many large fishing vessels were reluctant to put to sea – “some crews are refusing to sail altogether, while others are limiting themselves to coastal fishing”. Bulgaria’s fishing fleet comprises 1,740 vessels, including 100 large ships that fish in the economic zone, now considered highly dangerous.

The problems facing fish processing businesses should not be underestimated either, he warned, noting that catches by the largest fishing companies with processing plants were down to half last year’s levels.

“Bulgarians need to be aware that Black Sea fish will become increasingly scarce and expensive,” he said.

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Editor: Diana Tsankova