EcoLur
The Institute of Hydroecology and Ichthyology of NAS RA assessed the fish reserves in Lake Sevan approximately 7-8 tons. This means that nothing is left from the reserves of 30,000 tons in the early 90’s. There are different opinions why the fish in Sevan has disappeared. The main reason is the impunity of official responsible for Sevan and fish preservation, officials who have wasted budget funds and left the country without any fish in Sevan. This impunity still continues. And now we eye witness how decisions promoting destruction of Sevan are still adopted. However, people having signed these decisions know that even a small pond is left from Sevan they won’t bear any responsibility. In order not to sound ungrounded, we would like to make a reference to the correspondence of the local Sevan-based organization with responsible officials still in 2005. Satik Badeyan, Chairman of the Center for Development and Studies (Sevan), presents the problem in the video material.
“In 2005 the whitefish reserves in Sevan were already on the verge of elimination. Fishermen themselves felt this problem best of all. I received more than 30 alarm signals from them and we together drew up a letter to the president. I just recorded what all these fishermen said.
“Our hearts contract, as we fish out from the lake whatever belongs to our children, grandchildren and even great grandchildren. This is the only way for us to earn our living. If I don’t fish, another person will fish. Every time I catch around 3000 young whitefish, only 10 cm long, and they are sold in markets at a price of 200 AMD. I know that the law bans to fish less than 28 cm, but I have to fish. Where can you see this: fishing how they want and how much they want…
Dear President
We, Sevan fishermen, would like to ask you to take measures and to ban fishing in Sevan in an urgent manner. Please, apply the strictest punishments so as nobody could flow into Sevan, as tomorrow will be too late…”
At the time the office of President was held by Robert Kocharyan, while Vardan Ayvazyan held the office of Nature Protection Minister. While tomorrow is already today. And we can see how Sevan is left without fish. Now the ban exists, but unfortunately there is no fish, while the same policy continues. We may lose the lake. After several years we will have to say that nobody shared our concerns and we don’t have Sevan any longer.”
August 24, 2012 at 14:01