EU-Report Accession Bulgaria

Chapter 8: Fisheries

Since the last Regular Report, Bulgaria has further progressed towards the adoption and implementation of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP).

The National Agency for Fisheries and Aquaculture (NAFA), which was established in the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, is responsible for the management of commercial and recreational fisheries in Bulgarian waters. The administrative capacity of NAFA has considerably improved with the increase of regional offices from 6 to 27, and the increase of staff from 48 at the beginning of 2001 to 156 in August 2002. The 27 regional offices are responsible for field monitoring, control and surveillance activities.

Since the adoption in April 2001 of the Fisheries and Aquaculture Act, which provides the framework for the harmonisation of Bulgarian legislation with major aspects of the Common Fisheries Policy (resource conservation, control and inspection, fisheries data, market policy), further progress has been made on implementing legislation. Ordinances on logbooks and licensing of fishing activities were adopted in November 2001 and January 2002 respectively.

As regards resource management, inspection and control, the Fisheries and Aquaculture Act introduces the requirements of EC acquis on landing declarations and first sale information. No progress can be reported on the installation of the Vessel Monitoring System. In the field of structural actions, significant progress was achieved by the finalisation of the creation of the Fishing Vessel Register at the Executive Agency of Maritime Administration (under the Ministry of Transport and Communications) and the training of personnel to operate it.

As regards market policy, limited progress can be reported in this field. A feasibility study was prepared, with recommendations on regulating the activities of producers' organisations and the organisation of market intervention in the fisheries and aquaculture sector.

As regards state aid to the fisheries sector, there are no new developments to report.

Following a decision of the Standing Veterinary Committee in spring 2002, Bulgaria was reincluded in the list of countries that can export fishery products to the European Union.

As regards international fisheries agreements, no new developments can be reported. However, a conference of the Black Sea countries on the management of sturgeon populations held under the auspices of the Secretariat of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) agreed on joint action, including research, for preservation and sustainable use of sturgeons, and set permissible catches and export quotas.

Overall assessment

Whilst the administrative capacity of the National Agency for Fisheries and Aquaculture (NAFA) has considerably improved, it still lacks adequate equipment and trained personnel to effectively implement requirements relating to the establishment of a control system applicable to the CFP.

Whilst progress has been made on legislation in areas such as resource conservation, control and inspection, fisheries data and market policy, further steps (notably the adoption of implementing legislation) will be needed to ensure full conformity with the acquis.

Regarding resource management, inspection and control, further efforts are needed to develop the NAFA's control system, in particular to ensure adequate administrative capacity and equipment.

Regarding the fish processing industry, 44 fish processing establishments are registered with the National Veterinary Service (NVS) but only about 20 are currently actively operating. Their activities encompass freezing, smoking, canning, marinating and production of caviar.

As regards structural actions, adoption of further implementing legislation is still needed to finalise the Fishing Vessel Register. The State Fund for Agriculture has been nominated as the body to manage future aid. It will also act as the Paying Agency for the fisheries sector. However further efforts will be needed to ensure it is sufficiently equipped and trained to perform such functions in compliance with EC structural action requirements.

On market policy, further progress will be needed on adoption of implementing legislation and on creation of market and wholesale infrastructure. Bulgaria still needs to create producer organisations, implement market regulation and create an Intervention Agency, promote an information system and set up and maintain a system for communication of information with the European Commission.

A Bulgarian Fisheries Association was created to represent marine fishing and processing companies, but there is no collective representation of individual fishermen. Those involved in aquaculture have an informal association.

On veterinary issues, although the situation has generally improved, problems still remain regarding legislation, laboratories, the residue monitoring programme and official supervision. It is important to ensure that steps are taken to introduce an adequate certification procedure for caviar, inter alia to avoid potential fraud on origin. At present, the NVS is not in a position to guarantee the health status regarding viral diseases of aquaculture fish originating in Bulgaria, so efforts are needed to address this.

On structural actions, particular attention needs to be paid to the supply of adequate equipment and the training of the personnel appointed to manage future aid and to act as the paying agency in compliance with EC structural actions requirements.

Conclusion

In its 1997 Opinion, the Commission concluded that the process of modernisation and acquis implementation would require significant efforts. However, it noted that in the medium term the fishery sector did not appear to present a major problem.

Since the Opinion, Bulgaria has made progress. Considerable further work is needed for the fisheries sector in Bulgaria to achieve compliance with the acquis.

Negotiations on this chapter have been provisionally closed. Bulgaria has not requested any transitional arrangements. Bulgaria is generally meeting the commitments it has made in the accession negotiations in this field.

Bulgaria should focus further efforts on developing an adequate marketing infrastructure, and on measures to ensure full compliance with EC hygiene and health requirements and to ensure sufficient financing.

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