Fishermen’s associations from the Southern Black Sea coast protested before the IARA against the three-month ban on catching white clams. It comes into force from May 1, and the reasons are that their population is threatened.
According to the fishermen, the period of the ban is very long and will lead to bankruptcies.
“This is done at the suggestion of the advisory council to the Minister of Agriculture, which was held back in November. The proposal was even to make the ban four months. The motives are to preserve the white mussel population, which is highly endangered”, said Doychin Mihailov – director of the Directorate “Fisheries and Control” – IARA.
According to fishermen and representatives of fish processing enterprises, this prohibition period should be shorter and only cover the breeding period.
“Unnecessary harassment of fishermen. Yes we agree about spawning, but spawning is a short period. Three months is too much. To do it in two stages of one month each, but not now, when there is a market price for the clam. She is exported alive to Europe”, said the fisherman Dimitar Ivanov for BGNES.
The protesters are demanding that the order be revoked. It can be appealed in court.
Tags: Fishermen protested IARA threemonth ban white clam fishing
