КРАЙБРЕЖЕН РИБОЛОВ ПО ЮЖНОТО БЪЛГАРСКО ЧЕРНОМОРИЕ В ПЪРВИТЕ ДЕСЕТИЛЕТИЯ НА XX В.
COASTAL FISHING ON THE SOUTHERN BULGARIAN BLACK SEA COAST IN THE FIRST DECADES OF THE XX CENTURY

Summary/Abstract: In the first decades of the XX century there was a widespread opinion among the public circles, related to the promotion of traditional sea fishing on the Bulgarian Black Sea coast and the development of sea fishing as a branch of the national economy, about its “primitive”, “rudimentary” state. The features of this underdevelopment, or rather of a significant deterioration or crisis in the evolution of this economic activity, so typical for the local conditions, and traditional vocation of the local population, are found in the usage of not so modern techniques and organization of fishing; in the poor condition of its material and technical resources; in the insufficient development of the other related fishing activities (fishing industry and trade with fish and fishery products), as well as the existence of huge imports of fish from other countries; but most of all, the decay is visible, on the one hand, in the significant reduction of the fishing class – of fishermen and entrepreneurs in sea fishing, mainly ethnic Greeks from the traditional fishing centers in the region, and, on the other hand – in the short-sighted attitude of Bulgarian governments towards fishing (resp. sea fishing) and related economic activities, as well as in the absence for many years of a clear national program for fisheries.In connection with the aforementioned circumstances, the article examines the main causes of the described crisis phenomena, and also presents the measures and initiatives taken since the early 20’s – 30’s of the XX century to overcome the crisis mainly in two directions, outlining the main aspects of the Bulgarian state policy regarding sea fisheries, namely: 1) intensive and systematic promotion of sea fishing and its modernization; 2) creation of a Bulgarian fishing class, which should become related to the sea and consolidated along its coast.The main conclusion made in the article is that the 20s – 30s of the XX century are the period that marks the beginning of a new stage in the history of coastal sea fishing in the region and in the development of the centuries-old local fishing tradition.

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