Protest of fishermen and hoteliers in Varna against wind farms (photos)

Fishermen and hoteliers from the Northern Black Sea coast protested in Varna against the draft law on the generation of energy from renewable sources in marine spaces. The reason for their discontent is a meeting organized by the Center for the Study of Democracy in the city about the development of wind farms in the Black Sea. Because of the protest, the meeting was held online.

According to one of the organizers of the protest, Emil Milev, chairman of the Black Sea Sunrise Fishing Association, the fishermen of Varna are adamantly opposed to the construction of offshore wind farms in the Black Sea. He was adamant that the fishing and tourism industry say "No" to wind farms in the sea.

The protesters met with the mayor of Varna Blagomir Kotsev. He assured them that he would fulfil the will of the people of Varna and stood by the declaration of the City Council to withdraw the bill on renewable energy sources in the Black Sea.

Fishermen are also unhappy about the lack of sufficient boat moorings. In early March, arna Maritime Administration banned the use of 34 of them because of their poor condition.

The fishermen demanded the resignation of Lachezar Bratoev, the head of the Fishing Harbours Department at the Varna Municipality. They accused him of deliberately delaying the permits for the use of the boat moorings and berths, which are issued every year.

Images by BTA