In order to create optimal conditions for the natural reproduction of spring-summer breeding fish and in accordance with the Fisheries and Aquaculture Act (FAA), the Minister of Agriculture and Food Dr. Georgi Tahov, in coordination with the Minister of Environment and Water, annually introduces a ban on catching fish and other aquatic organisms during their breeding period by order. The ban is introduced for the Black Sea, the Danube River and the country's inland water bodies.
In the current 2025 fishing for mackerel (Danube mackerel) is prohibited from 01 to 31 May 2025, inclusive, in the Bulgarian section of the Danube River, for gobies (Gobiidae) - from 15 April to 15 May 2025, inclusive, in the waters of the Black Sea.
The ban on fishing for turbot (Scophthalmus maximus) will apply from 15 April to 15 June 2025, inclusive. With regard to turbot during this period, in addition to any fishing activity, transhipment, retention on board, landing and first sale are prohibited, in accordance with Council Regulation (EU) 2025/219 of 30 January 2025 fixing for 2025 of fishing opportunities for certain fish stocks and groups of fish stocks applicable in the Mediterranean Sea and the Black Sea.
For all other spring-summer spawning fish, fishing bans are subject to the altitude of the water bodies - from 15 April to 31 May 2025. are for those located at an altitude of up to 500 m and from May 1 to June 15, 2025, for sites located at an altitude of 500 to 1,500 m.
The order also extends the ban on catching whitefish (Sander lucioperca), pike (Esox lucius) and asp (Aspius aspius) with net fishing gear in the Bulgarian section of the Danube River until May 31, 2025, inclusive.
It is important for persons engaged in recreational fishing that there are certain water bodies in which recreational fishing is permitted during the period of the ban.