Skip to main content
European Commission logo

Bulgaria

MSP EU Legend 3

This map was compiled from different international sources such as EMODnet, EEA or Marine Regions. Information obtained from these sources was cross-checked with data from national sources. While compilation was carried out by the European MSP Platform, validation and quality assurance remain the responsibility of the primary data sources.

Basic facts on Marine Waters

  • Bulgaria's territorial sea out to 12 nautical miles (as defined by UNCLOS), including internal waters, covers approximately 6,358 km².  
  • The Contiguous zone (as defined by UNCLOS) covers approximately 5,200 km². 
  • The Exclusive Economic Zone covers about 29 052 km². 
  • The Exclusive Economic Zone between Bulgaria and Turkey was agreed in 1997. 
  • Pending delimitation of boundaries with Romania (TS, Continental Shelf and EEZ) 

Relevant links

View best practices relevant for Bulgaria
Go to Black Sea basin page
Contact email:
blacksea [at] maritime-spatial-planning.ec.europa.eu

Ongoing projects

View all projects for Bulgaria
Back to all Countries

Maritime Spatial Plan(s) 

Status: Adopted

Bulgaria adopted its maritime spatial plan, the Marine Spatial Plan of the Republic of Bulgaria, in May 2023. 

Access Bulgaria's maritime spatial plan here (in Bulgarian)

To support the elaboration of the national maritime spatial plan, pilot plans for MSP have been elaborated under the framework of the MARPLAN BS and MARSPLAN BS II projects. 

Latest MSP developments

The review and update of Bulgaria’s maritime spatial plan was commenced in December 2023.

Next steps

The required revisions and updates to the plan are expected to be integrated by the end of June 2024.

MSP Legislation 

The EU MSP Directive is transposed into national legislation through an amendment of the Maritime Spaces, Inland Waterways and Ports of the Republic of Bulgaria Act. The Advisory Council on Maritime Spatial Planning has been working since 2018 on the development of the Plan. Some general measures that cover MSP (and ICZM) are mentioned in the Development Strategies of the coastal districts (Burgas, Varna and Dobrich), in the National Strategic Plan for Aquaculture in Bulgaria (2014-2020) and in the National Regional Development Strategy (2012-2022).

National MSP Authority

Bulgaria's competent authority for MSP is the Minister of Regional Development and Public Works.

Contacts: 

Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works

Directorate General “Strategic Planning and Regional Development Programs”

1.Mr. Ivaylo Stoyanov

Head of Department "Strategic Planning and Programming"

Sofia 1618, 215 Tsar Boris III blvd.

tel. +3592 9405 627

e-mail: istoyanovatmrrb.government.bg (istoyanov[at]mrrb[dot]government[dot]bg)

2. Ms. Stanislava Atanasova,

Chief Expert in DG "Strategic Planning and Regional Development Programs"

е-mail:  satanasovaatmrrb.government.bg (satanasova[at]mrrb[dot]government[dot]bg)

tel. +3592 9405 655

For more information

For more information regarding the evolution of the MSP process in Bulgaria please see the dedicated country profile below. 

Bulgaria Country Profile.pdf
Download