site.btaFishing Ban During Spawning Season Now in Force across Bulgaria

A nationwide ban on the capture of fish and other aquatic organisms during their breeding period is now in effect in Bulgaria, the Ministry of Agriculture and Food announced on Thursday. The measure is introduced annually through an order issued by the Minister of Agriculture and Food, in coordination with the Minister of Environment and Water.

The restriction is intended as a temporary fishing prohibition designed to ensure favourable conditions for the natural reproduction of spring–summer spawning fish species. It applies to the Black Sea, the Danube River, and inland water bodies across the country.

For 2026, the fishing of karagyoz (Pontic shad) in the Bulgarian section of the Danube River is prohibited from 1 to 31 May. In the Black Sea, the use of net fishing gear for gobies is banned from April 15 to May 15, 2026. Turbot is subject to a stricter restriction, with a complete ban in force from April 15 to June 15, 2026, during which all fishing activities are prohibited, including keeping catches on board, unloading, and selling the species.

For other spring–summer spawning fish, the ban is applied depending on the altitude of inland water bodies: for those of altitude of up to 500 meters above sea level, fishing is prohibited from April 15 to May 31 and for those above 500 meters, the restriction runs from May 1 to June 15.

The order also extends until May 31, 2026, the ban on catching pike, asp, and zander using net fishing equipment in the Bulgarian section of the Danube.

The regulation lists certain water bodies where recreational fishing is still permitted during the closed season, under defined conditions.