Bulgaria

Bulgaria in the world and in the EU

Bulgaria is a minor EU producer of fishery products. As for aquaculture production, in 2023 it ranked 18th among EU-27 producing countries.

Fishing fleet

Landings

Landings comprise the initial unloading of any fisheries products from on board a fishing vessel in a given Member State. They include aquatic plants and species not destined for human consumption. Landings are recorded in net weight and value, and concern landings made by vessels from EU Member States, Iceland, Norway and the UK.

Landings in Bulgaria are destined for human consumption only, and they entirely include fresh products.

There are 75 fishing ports registered in the country source: EU Master Data Register, 03 December 2025).

Main commercial species landed and % of total
2023, million euros (nominal value) and 1.000 tonnes

Aquaculture

Aquaculture consists in the farming of aquatic (fresh or saltwater) organisms, such as fish, molluscs, crustaceans and aquatic plants. Aquaculture data are reported in live weight equivalent and value.

In 2023, almost 89% of Bulgarian production occurred in freshwater and the rest in marine waters.

According to Eurostat, in 2023 the following main production methods are used in the country:

• Around 11% of production: off bottom in brackish water;
• Around 2% of production: in tanks and raceways in freshwater;
• Around 1% of production: recirculation systems;
• Less than 1% of production: in cages in freshwater.

The rest has been classified under fresh water using other methods for which no detail is available.

Main commercial species farmed and % of total
2023, million euros (nominal value) and 1.000 tonnes

Producer organisations

Source: European Commission, List of the recognised producer organisations in the fishery and aquaculture sector

In Bulgaria, 2 producer organisations (PO) are formally recognized, operating in the fishery sector. Their role is to contribute to the achievement of the objectives of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) and of the Common organisation of the markets (CMO) through the collective management of their members' activities.

First sales

First sales concern the fish that is sold or registered at an auction center or to registered buyers or to producer organizations (PO). First sales may differ from landings since the former do not cover fish that is landed by vessels owned by processing companies or direct sales to processors.

In 2025, total first sales in Bulgarian places of sale amounted to 3.083 tonnes and 2,7 million euros. 

The top-3 places of sale covered 72% and 61% of total first sales, respectively in volume and value terms.

Wholesale

Wholesale is an intermediary stage in the distribution channel that buys in bulk and sells to resellers (e.g. retailers) rather than to consumers. In Bulgaria, there is only one wholesale market, namely Bourgas (source: Eurofish).

Processing

According to Eurostat-SBS, 766 persons were employed in the Bulgarian fish processing industry in 2023. The sector recorded a value added of 31,7 million euros, covering 2% of the value added of total manufacture of food products.  

In 2024, the main products sold were “Fresh or chilled fish fillets and fish meat (including shark fins), whether or not minced” and “Smoked trout (incl. fillets, excluding heads, tails and maws)”  

(source: Eurostat-PRODCOM).

47 companies
Net turnover: 142,8 million euros
(2024, source: Eurostat - SBS)

Import

Main commercial species imported
and % of total imports
2024, million euros (nominal value)

Export

Main commercial species exported
and % of total exports
2024, million euros (nominal value)

Distribution

The supply chain of fisheries and aquaculture products in Bulgaria (source: Eurofish):

Consumption

In 2023, apparent consumption was estimated at 7,64 kg per capita, a 5% increase compared with 2022. The most consumed species were mackerel, trout, hake, sprat and coldwater shrimps (source: EUMOFA).

7,64 kg
per capita in live 
weight equivalent
(2023, source: EUMOFA)

The country in EUMOFA