November 24 (SeeNews) - The European Commission said on Thursday that it has approved the disbursement of 85 million euro ($88.5 million) worth of grants for Bulgaria's fisheries and aquaculture sector to help promote investments in sustainability, renewable energy and waste reduction.
The funds will be channelled through the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund for the 2021-2027 programming period, the EU executive said in a press release.
Including co-financing, the Bulgarian fisheries sector will receive overall support to the tune of 121 million euro over the period.
The funding programme will boost the green and digital transition while furthering the use of low-carbon fuels and of fishing equipment and techniques with a lower environmental impact.
"For Bulgaria, it will substantially contribute to the development of fishing and aquaculture communities, support protection and restoration of aquatic biodiversity and ecosystems and strengthen sustainable sea and ocean management," EU environment, oceans and fisheries commissioner, Virginijus Sinkevicius, said.
Earlier this month, the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) decided to roll over the total allowable catches (TAC) for turbot as well as to carry over the unused EU turbot quotas from 2021 to 2023. In 2019, the Commission adopted a multi-annual management plan, setting a catch limit for turbot of 114 tonnes, equally divided between Bulgaria and Romania.
Bulgaria sought EU Commission approval of its marine, fisheries and aquaculture 2021-2027 operational programme in early November.
($ = 0.960307 euro)