The Bulgarian Agriculture and Food Ministry has notified the European Commission about the apprehended Bulgarian fishing vessel in Romania,. Executive Director of the Agency for Fisheries and Aquaculture at Ministry of Agriculture and Food Mr.Yavor Nedev has sent a letter about the case to Director-General of the Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Lowri Evans via Bulgaria's Permanent Representation in the EU.. In the letter Nedev asks the Directorate-General to clarify the principle of equal access of Community fishing vessels to waters and resources in all Community waters laid down in Council Regulation No 2371/2002 on the conservation and sustainable exploitation of fisheries resources under the Common Fisheries Policy.
A fishing vessel sailing under Bulgarian flag was apprehended by the Romanian authorities on April 13, about 20 miles off the Romanian coast. The captain of the vessel was charged with violating the provisions about commercial fishing in Romania. According to the document about the arrest by the Romanian border police, the vessel was intercepted due to the absence of a valid permit from the Romanian authorities. However, the ship features in the register of fishing vessels in the EU and has the necessary permits by the Bulgarian competent authorities.
The Bulgarian Executive Agency on Fisheries and Aquacultures has raised the question with the Romanian authorities and the Romanian Embassy in Bulgaria already at the detention of the ship, and has informed the Agriculture and Food Ministry and the Foreign Ministry. I.