Biodivervity in Bulgaria :: BD and fishery

According to the National Biological Diversity Conservation Strategy, the contemporary Bulgarian ichthyofauna consists of 207 species and subspecies, 122 of which inhabit fresh and brackish waters- rivers, wetlands, and natural and man-made lakes.

Along with naturally distributed populations, fish farms have been functioning aiming at meeting the market demand of fish without affecting the natural resources, aiming also at providing stocking material. Bulgaria has about 3,300 ha of fish producing basins. The processes of fish reproduction, feeding, growth, etc. in the fish farms are controlled. They have two main functions: production of stocking material and production of fish for consumption. Carp, herbivorous species, silver carp, grass carp, rainbow trout, brown trout, buffalo fish, and channel catfish are among the preferred species for artificial reproduction and distribution.

The fish farms are part of the established structures and legislative mechanisms for control, rational use and restoration of the fish resources in Bulgaria. The role of the institutions is to conserve the biological diversity and especially the ichthyofauna and fish populations and at the same time to meet the market needs.