The European Comission will pay up to 60% of the expenses to modernize the fishing ships in Bulgaria, announced Antonio Gutierez from the department of “Fishery and sea related issues” during a visit in the bulgarian seaside city Sozopol.

His clarification was that the subsidies for the vessels can be used only if Bulgaria lowers the amount of fishing vessels by 30%, announced Europe.bg.

This has to happen under the regulations of the European community.

According to the regulation, the European Comission will pay an additional 600 million euro to the money already given under the operative program for fishery and aquacultures.

If Bulgaria decides to seize the opportunity, new planning for the fishing fleet needs to be established until the end of the year. Gutierez says that the regulation will help the people in the trade, who suffered from the rises in gas prices in the summoer.

The regulation offered by the European Comission is already being used to full advantage by Greece and Romania.