Sevan Fish Population Just Enough For 4 Nets – Researcher

SEVAN FISH POPULATION JUST ENOUGH FOR 4 NETS – RESEARCHER

tert.am
14.11.12

The fish population in Lake Sevan is just enough for four fishing
nets, says Boris Gabrieylayn, a researcher at the National Academy’s
Institute for Hydroecology and Ichthyology.

According to him, there Baltic whitefish (the predominant fish species
in Sevan) reduced to 8.5 tons last year. “One fishing net would catch
two tons in the past, but today you can clear the lake of fish after
casting a net four times,” he told Tert.am.

Gabrielyan proposed enriching the lake’s fish population with the
imported whitefish roe.

“Ours is no longer enough to ensure [a sufficient quantity]. But it is
also necessary to take care of proper storage conditions. Otherwise we
will spend a lot of money, fill the lake to raise the number of fish,
but poachers will later catch them,” he said.

Though whitefish hunting is prohibited in Sevan, recent photos in the
press revealed that it is on sale in the streets of Yerevan. Asked how
the banned fish species appears in the capital city, Silva Adamyan,
a member of the Eco Alliance NGO, said everything “lies in a nutshell”.

The environmentalist has several photos fixed by surveillance cameras
in the vicinities of the Sevan National Park. The pictures, taken
in August, are now available on Facebook. Adamyan has turned to the
Ministry of Culture, asking for special measures to combat illegal
fish hunting.

“But what should the Ministry say?” she asked. “By the way, when I
last visited the Sevan National Park, the employees were complaining
that their resources are not enough to halt the illegal hunters. I
saw myself an employee being physically unable to push back the
Õ°ooligans,” she said.

She called for launching a special campaign with the involvement of
representatives from relevant subdivisions.

Officials at the Ministry of Nature Protection told our correspondent
that they have sent inspectors after the recent reports. They promised
to provide further details upon having information on the illegal
fish hunters.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress