Varna fishing port modernisation about 20% done, due November 2027
The EU-funded upgrade of Varna's fishing port in Asparuhovo is 15–20% complete; it is built in two stages so boats keep working until November 2027.
The modernisation of Varna Fishing Port in the Asparuhovo district is about 15–20% complete and is due to be finished in November 2027. That is what the Varna municipal council’s committee on European affairs and international cooperation heard, Varna News reported on 24 October 2026. The work is done in two stages so fishermen can keep landing their catch while it goes on.
What is being built at the fishing port?
According to the committee report, crews are currently laying water supply, sewer and cable lines. Video surveillance has already been contracted, and technical, rescue and firefighting equipment has been bought. Movable units will come last, once the pipes and cables are in.
The project is officially called “Improvement of infrastructure and modernisation of Varna Fishing Port”. A municipal procurement notice from May 2026 places the works in the Asparuhovo district (on the south side of the canal) and dates the grant agreement to 14 November 2025.
Who pays for the Varna fishing port upgrade?
The money comes from the EU-backed Maritime Affairs, Fisheries and Aquaculture Programme 2021–2027. Varna News reports that the municipality can receive advance payments of up to about €550,000 excluding VAT. The reports do not state a total project value, so we do not give one here.
Why are trees being cut at the port?
Before the works, city experts checked the trees on the port site. In an announcement published by BTA on 12 October 2026, the municipality said three trees will be removed and four will get sanitary pruning to shape their crowns. To keep the green cover, three new large trees will be planted on municipal land, with species and spots agreed with the Asparuhovo district’s environmental inspectors. No dates for the tree work were given.
What it means for Varna
- Fishermen can keep working: the two-stage plan is designed to avoid closing the port.
- Asparuhovo residents should expect trenching and contractor traffic around the port for about another year. The district is also dealing with the landslide at the Vilite area, which is unrelated to the port works.
- Timeline: with roughly a fifth done in October 2026, the November 2027 deadline leaves about 13 months for the rest. We will update this page if the schedule changes.
For other decisions of the municipal council, see the dispute over Varna’s culture budget.
Sources
Frequently asked questions
When will the Varna fishing port modernisation be finished?
The deadline is November 2027, according to the municipal council's European affairs committee.
Can fishermen still use the port during the works?
Yes. The project is split into two stages precisely so that fishermen can keep working from the port.
Are trees being cut at the fishing port?
Varna Municipality said three trees will be removed and four pruned, and that three new large trees will be planted on municipal land in return.
How much does the whole project cost?
The reports we checked do not give a total project value; only advance payments of up to about €550,000 excluding VAT were mentioned.
