Three Bulgarian vessels, 10 sailors detained in Romanian waters for illegal fishing of sharks (update)

Romanian authorities detained three Bulgarian fishing vessels with a total of 10 sailors on board for illegal fishing of sharks. The vessels were 50 miles east of Constanta. The ships and the crews are currently at Port 1 in Constanta, the military port. They are all fine.

Bulgarian Ambassador to Romania, Radko Vlaikov, told BNT that our diplomats have sent an urgent note to the Romanian Foreign Ministry to clarify the case.

The ships were detained last night (March 23) after 11:30 p.m. 50 miles east of Constanta and are currently in Port 1, the military port of Constanta.

The director of the Executive Agency for Fisheries and Aquaculture, Vania Stamatova, explained that there is currently a one-month ban on shark fishing in Romanian seas, and the Bulgarian vessel was found to be carrying sharks.

The Bulgarian vessels in Constanta were detained after a raid by the Bulgarian and Romanian authorities

Bulgarian diplomats in Romania are in touch with the captains of the vessels. According to BNT sources, the ships are from Bourgas, Varna and Kavarna.

Images by Romanian Border Police