SOFIA, Dec. 5 (Xinhua) -- Bulgaria's National Fish Fest was held here on Friday with the aim of promoting fish and fish products, as well as supporting local fishermen, producers and processors.
Cooking demonstrations featuring dishes such as baked fish and mussels with rice, along with stalls offering fresh, frozen and canned fish, were among the highlights of the outdoor event, held in the heart of Sofia near the Vasil Levski National Monument.
The festival, organized by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food, also featured demonstrations of traditional fishing crafts, film screenings, fish-processing competitions and activities for children.
Despite Bulgaria's access to the Black Sea and the Danube River, average per-capita fish consumption was only 7.0 kg in 2024, according to the National Statistical Institute.
Among the participants was 71-year-old Georgi Dimov, a third-generation fisherman from Burgas, Bulgaria's second-largest Black Sea city. Dimov showcased traditional fishing skills, including knitting and mending nets.
Fishing was the livelihood of his grandfather, father and himself, Dimov told Xinhua, but declining fish stocks have pushed the profession to the brink of extinction, he said. ■
