Commission proposes 2008 fishing opportunities for the Black Sea
For the first time since the accession of Bulgaria and Romania to the European Union on 1 January 2007, the European
Commission is now proposing fishing opportunities for fish stocks in the Black Sea.
The Commission proposes for 2008 a Total Allowable Catch (TAC) of 90 tonnes for turbot, and a TAC of 15,000 tonnes for
sprat, the two main commercial stocks targeted by the Bulgarian and Romanian fleets.
These proposals are based on advice from a working group of leading Bulgarian and Romanian fisheries scientists which
met in September, and from the Commission's own Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee on Fisheries (STECF) which
has reviewed the working group's report.
While the sprat stock in the Black Sea is in a very good state, turbot have been under heavy fishing pressure for a
while, and the TAC has been set at a low level in order to allow the stock to recover
The TAC for sprat is unallocated, while the TAC for turbot would be divided equally between the two countries. The
proposal also sets out technical measures for the turbot fishery, specifically a minimum mesh size of 180 mm and a
minimum landing size of 45 cm.
These measures harmonise the existing provisions which prevailed in Bulgaria and Romania prior to accession. The minimum
mesh size is transitional, and will be increased to 200 mm after a period to allow the Bulgarian fleet to adapt.
There are plans to increase data collection and scientific research on fish stocks in the Black Sea, which remain
relatively under-researched compared to those in other EU waters. Better knowledge and increased data may in future
years lead to proposals for further TACs for other Black Sea fish stocks.
The Commission continues to attach great importance to promoting cooperation in fisheries management between all the
Black Sea countries.
To this end, the Commission is promoting an international conference bringing together all the Black Sea countries to
discuss regional fisheries cooperation to be held in Turkey in early 2008.
Turkey is the major fisheries actor in the Black Sea region, and its fleet currently accounts for approximately 85% of
commercial catches.
Background
Romania has a coastal fishing fleet of around 450 vessels, mostly made up of small boats that fish with a fixed net in
coastal waters. Around 10 trawlers fish for small pelagic species in the 12-mile coastal zone.
Landings amount to around 2,000 tonnes annually[*] and are made up mainly of small pelagic species (85%), essentially
sprat (75%). Other catches include anchovies, whiting, Black Sea shad (herring type), Black Sea turbot, mullets and
Atlantic bonito.
Bulgaria's coastal fishing fleet comprises around 2,200 vessels most of which are small scale fishing boats and around
85 vessels are over 12 meters in length.
Landings amount to around 17,500 tonnes annually[*] and 90% of these are sprat and sea snail (rapana venosa). Sprat
(7,200 tons in 2005) is caught mainly by large trawlers, alongside anchovy, horse mackerel, whiting and Black Sea shad
in smaller quantities.
Rapana venosa (8,200 tonnes in 2005) is a large sea snail which is hand picked from the seabed by divers. Other small
scale fishery targets bluefish, Black Sea turbot, common spiny and Atlantic bonito.
For more information about EU fisheries policy, see:
http://ec.europa.eu/fisheries/index_en.htm
ENDS