"We want tourists on our Black Sea coast to eat high-quality and safe Bulgarian black mussels harvested from the open sea." The Minister of Agriculture and Food, Plamen Abrovsky, stated this to the media in Varna following an inspection in the Bay of Varna.
The Minister of Agriculture and Food, Plamen Abrovsky, expressed to the media in Varna that “we want tourists on our Black Sea coast to enjoy high-quality and safe Bulgarian black mussels harvested from the open sea.” This statement followed an inspection in the Bay of Varna.
During the inspection early this morning, teams from the Executive Agency for Fisheries and Aquaculture (EAFA) apprehended poachers using two boats that were caught with over half a ton of black mussels harvested from the area near the two canals by Varna. Minister Abrovsky noted that harvesting in this area is strictly prohibited due to hygiene requirements and compromised water quality. He emphasized, “High-quality and safe Bulgarian black mussels must reach the retail market exclusively from the open sea, where the water is crystal clear.”
The inspection also uncovered "bottom trawling gear," which the Minister highlighted as currently prohibited due to its destructive impact on the white mussel population and marine habitats.
Minister Abrovsky announced the government's goal to increase penalties for such violations significantly. “Currently, the fines are up to 2,000 euros, which is far too low,” he explained.
Additionally, he mentioned that there is only one factory in the Varna region capable of cleaning and offering black mussels for consumption. The Ministry of Agriculture and Food, in collaboration with EAFA and the Bulgarian Food Safety Agency (BFSA), aims to designate specific zones along the Black Sea coast to prevent aquaculture harvesting from prohibited areas.
During the inspection early this morning, teams from the Executive Agency for Fisheries and Aquaculture (EAFA) caught poachers in two boats with over half a ton of black mussels harvested from the area of the two canals near Varna. Minister Abrovskу stated that harvesting in this area is strictly prohibited due to hygiene requirements and compromised water quality. "High-quality and safe Bulgarian black mussels must reach the retail network exclusively from the open sea, where the water is crystal clear," he added.
According to him, the so-called "bottom trawling gear" was also found during the inspection. The Minister of Agriculture emphasized that harvesting with such gear is currently prohibited because it not only decimates the white mussel population but also destroys marine habitat.
Minister Abrovsky also announced that the government's ambition is to raise the penalties for such violations to the maximum extent. "Currently, the fines are up to 2,000 euros, which is far too low," he explained.
"There is only one factory in the Varna region that can clean and subsequently offer black mussels for consumption. The goal of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food together with EAFA and the Bulgarian Food Safety Agency (BFSA) is to zone the Black Sea coast to ensure that aquaculture is not harvested from prohibited areas," he concluded.