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LAKE SEVAN OVER-FISHING COULD PRODUCE LOCAL ECONOMIC CATASTROPHE
by Marianna Grigoryan
EurasiaNet.org
Dec 13 2010
NY
Days after introducing a 90-day fishing moratorium for Armenia~Rs
Lake Sevan, officials in Yerevan are now pushing for a long-term ban
in a bid to revive the alpine lake~Rs dwindling fish population. But
enforcing any ban may prove problematic, experts say.
Lake Sevan, the Caucasus~R largest high-altitude lake, with a surface
area of about 1,200 square kilometers, provides Armenia with most
of its fresh water. It also acts as an economic lifeline for local
residents who depend on sales of its fish.
The fishing ban, introduced December 3 by Minister of Environmental
Protection Karine Danielian, targets trout and whitefish, two species
that scientists say have experienced a precipitous decline in recent
years. The ban, which went into effect on December 5, will run until
the end of January, a timeframe that covers the breeding season for
both fish. Boats that break the ban can be fined and potentially
confiscated, along with their catch. Fishing for crawfish and other
crustaceans will be allowed from December 28 until December 31 for
New Year~Rs celebrations.
Those caught violating the ban will face a 30,000-50,000 dram
($83.29-$138.81) administrative fine and payment of 5,000 drams
($13.88) for each whitefish caught. Criminal charges could be brought
against those catching more than 40 whitefish
The ban is not a first; attempts to stop whitefish harvesting
routinely occur in the winter months, but are regularly flouted by
local fishermen and market sellers. Ignoring a requirement to use
fishing rods, local residents continue to use commercial fishing
boats and nets to haul in whitefish.
Whitefish, arguably the lake~Rs most popular fish for consumption,
helped many Armenians to survive the economic crisis of the early
1990s. But, over the past decade, whitefish population numbers have
decreased by some 95 percent -- to a mere 170 tons, according to
data collected by the National Academy of Sciences~R Hydrology and
Ichthyology Institute, which has conducted research on Lake Sevan since
1923. That number is no longer commercially viable, asserts Hydrology
and Ichthyology Institute Director Boris Gabrielian. By comparison,
in the early 1980s, the lake was estimated to contain approximately
30,000 tons of whitefish.
The lake~Rs trout population is believed to have been depleted too,
although no current population data exists.
~SThe history of Lake Sevan has never seen before such a grave
situation with diminishing fish resources and all its consequent
problems,~T said Gabrielian. ~SIn this situation, a complex,
comprehensive approach is required to fix things.~T Gabrielian said
he has proposed to the government a three-to-four-year ban on Lake
Sevan fishing to recover the whitefish and trout populations. The
lake~Rs whitefish population has been shrinking since 2000, he added.
Ministry of Environmental Protection spokesperson Artsrun Pepanian
told EurasiaNet.org that the ministry, in turn, is advocating at least
a three-year ban on Lake Sevan fishing, a proposal that is currently
under consideration by the government. The ban includes ~Sa series of
complicated measures~T that would require input from law-enforcement
and social welfare agencies.
The ministry, Pepanian continued, is ~Saware of the difficult
situation~T in Lake Sevan, but underlined that consideration must
be given to the ~Sdifficult socio-economic conditions~T for local
residents that could result from a lengthy fishing ban. During a
June 2010 visit to the Lake Sevan region, Armenian Prime Minister
Tigran Sarkisian characterized the issue of local poverty as ~Squite
pressing.~T
~SPrior to imposing a long-term fishing ban, we need to handle this
issue first,~T Pepanian said in reference to the lack of alternative
incomes to fishing.
As in many other regions of Armenia, much of the working-age population
living in the vicinity of Lake Sevan have migrated, leaving in search
of jobs in Russia or Ukraine. Those who remain often rely on the
illegal fishing of whitefish to earn some income.
~SWe have no other option, what can we do?~T said one woman selling
whitefish from a wooden box in a downtown Yerevan market. ~SWe
can~Rt survive if we don~Rt fish.~T As the numbers of whitefish have
decreased, their prices have skyrocketed; roughly a hundred-fold
over the past seven years, from 100 drams (about 40 cents) per fish
to 1,500-2,000 dram (about $4-$5.50) per fish today.
Hydrology and Ichthyology Institute Director Gabrielian emphasized
that if Lake Sevan~Rs fishing ban is not enforced, and the lake~Rs
ecological equilibrium restored, nearby residents will have an even
tougher time making ends meet. ~SThe lake does not have a single
generation of whitefish to make reproduction possible,~T Gabrielian
said. ~SThe whitefish do not manage to spawn and breed; this means
if no measures are taken, it will become absolutely extinct.~T
If a long-term ban is imposed, poaching stopped and water quality
improved, ~Sthe reproduction of fish will be restored~T to normal
levels, he said.
Some environmentalists are pessimistic that a ban will have much
effect. If anti-poaching measures had been taken in the past,
~Swe wouldn~Rt face the situation we have today,~T commented Hakob
Sanasarian, chairperson of the Greens Union of Armenia. Sanasarian
characterized the current ban as ~Sa mere formality.~T
Editor's note: Marianna Grigoryan is a freelance reporter in Yerevan.
From: A. Papazian
by Marianna Grigoryan
EurasiaNet.org
Dec 13 2010
NY
Days after introducing a 90-day fishing moratorium for Armenia~Rs
Lake Sevan, officials in Yerevan are now pushing for a long-term ban
in a bid to revive the alpine lake~Rs dwindling fish population. But
enforcing any ban may prove problematic, experts say.
Lake Sevan, the Caucasus~R largest high-altitude lake, with a surface
area of about 1,200 square kilometers, provides Armenia with most
of its fresh water. It also acts as an economic lifeline for local
residents who depend on sales of its fish.
The fishing ban, introduced December 3 by Minister of Environmental
Protection Karine Danielian, targets trout and whitefish, two species
that scientists say have experienced a precipitous decline in recent
years. The ban, which went into effect on December 5, will run until
the end of January, a timeframe that covers the breeding season for
both fish. Boats that break the ban can be fined and potentially
confiscated, along with their catch. Fishing for crawfish and other
crustaceans will be allowed from December 28 until December 31 for
New Year~Rs celebrations.
Those caught violating the ban will face a 30,000-50,000 dram
($83.29-$138.81) administrative fine and payment of 5,000 drams
($13.88) for each whitefish caught. Criminal charges could be brought
against those catching more than 40 whitefish
The ban is not a first; attempts to stop whitefish harvesting
routinely occur in the winter months, but are regularly flouted by
local fishermen and market sellers. Ignoring a requirement to use
fishing rods, local residents continue to use commercial fishing
boats and nets to haul in whitefish.
Whitefish, arguably the lake~Rs most popular fish for consumption,
helped many Armenians to survive the economic crisis of the early
1990s. But, over the past decade, whitefish population numbers have
decreased by some 95 percent -- to a mere 170 tons, according to
data collected by the National Academy of Sciences~R Hydrology and
Ichthyology Institute, which has conducted research on Lake Sevan since
1923. That number is no longer commercially viable, asserts Hydrology
and Ichthyology Institute Director Boris Gabrielian. By comparison,
in the early 1980s, the lake was estimated to contain approximately
30,000 tons of whitefish.
The lake~Rs trout population is believed to have been depleted too,
although no current population data exists.
~SThe history of Lake Sevan has never seen before such a grave
situation with diminishing fish resources and all its consequent
problems,~T said Gabrielian. ~SIn this situation, a complex,
comprehensive approach is required to fix things.~T Gabrielian said
he has proposed to the government a three-to-four-year ban on Lake
Sevan fishing to recover the whitefish and trout populations. The
lake~Rs whitefish population has been shrinking since 2000, he added.
Ministry of Environmental Protection spokesperson Artsrun Pepanian
told EurasiaNet.org that the ministry, in turn, is advocating at least
a three-year ban on Lake Sevan fishing, a proposal that is currently
under consideration by the government. The ban includes ~Sa series of
complicated measures~T that would require input from law-enforcement
and social welfare agencies.
The ministry, Pepanian continued, is ~Saware of the difficult
situation~T in Lake Sevan, but underlined that consideration must
be given to the ~Sdifficult socio-economic conditions~T for local
residents that could result from a lengthy fishing ban. During a
June 2010 visit to the Lake Sevan region, Armenian Prime Minister
Tigran Sarkisian characterized the issue of local poverty as ~Squite
pressing.~T
~SPrior to imposing a long-term fishing ban, we need to handle this
issue first,~T Pepanian said in reference to the lack of alternative
incomes to fishing.
As in many other regions of Armenia, much of the working-age population
living in the vicinity of Lake Sevan have migrated, leaving in search
of jobs in Russia or Ukraine. Those who remain often rely on the
illegal fishing of whitefish to earn some income.
~SWe have no other option, what can we do?~T said one woman selling
whitefish from a wooden box in a downtown Yerevan market. ~SWe
can~Rt survive if we don~Rt fish.~T As the numbers of whitefish have
decreased, their prices have skyrocketed; roughly a hundred-fold
over the past seven years, from 100 drams (about 40 cents) per fish
to 1,500-2,000 dram (about $4-$5.50) per fish today.
Hydrology and Ichthyology Institute Director Gabrielian emphasized
that if Lake Sevan~Rs fishing ban is not enforced, and the lake~Rs
ecological equilibrium restored, nearby residents will have an even
tougher time making ends meet. ~SThe lake does not have a single
generation of whitefish to make reproduction possible,~T Gabrielian
said. ~SThe whitefish do not manage to spawn and breed; this means
if no measures are taken, it will become absolutely extinct.~T
If a long-term ban is imposed, poaching stopped and water quality
improved, ~Sthe reproduction of fish will be restored~T to normal
levels, he said.
Some environmentalists are pessimistic that a ban will have much
effect. If anti-poaching measures had been taken in the past,
~Swe wouldn~Rt face the situation we have today,~T commented Hakob
Sanasarian, chairperson of the Greens Union of Armenia. Sanasarian
characterized the current ban as ~Sa mere formality.~T
Editor's note: Marianna Grigoryan is a freelance reporter in Yerevan.
From: A. Papazian