Bulgaria historical dolphin hunting and consumption

Historical records from the Regional Historical Museum in Burgas reveal that dolphin fillet was sold as a delicacy in Bulgaria until the late 1950s. The peak period for dolphin hunting occurred between 1930 and 1950.

During World War II, specifically in 1943, there was an increased demand for oils for industrial use. To address this, the Council of Ministers issued a decree to regulate dolphin oil production. In the Black Sea fishing region, 16 dolphin hunting groups were registered across the Burgas, Varna, and Dobrudja sectors. Records from the spring campaign of 1943 show that 832 dolphins were killed in the Varna sector and one in the Burgas sector. To encourage hunting, the Ministry of Agriculture offered a premium of 200 leva for each dolphin killed. The hunting of dolphins was eventually banned in Bulgaria in 1966.