Fish Farming Real in Sevan?

EcoLur

As a result of the public hearings held on 10 May at Sevan National Park a decision was adopted to approve the idea of pilot program on recovering the population of endemic trout species – gegharkounik and to demand from “Emmi Fruit” Company to submit the EIA. The representatives of the company, national park, environmental expert assessment, as well as those of NGOs such as EcoLur, Public Center for Regional development, Gavar Aarhus Center, National Assembly Deputy M. Stepanyan took part in the hearings. The locals and the neighboring villages didn’t take part in the hearings, as they didn’t know about them, while the NGOs, which were present at the hearings had no opportunity to examine the project earlier, as the project hadn’t been displayed on the website of Nature Protection Ministry.

The Sevan National Park learnt about the project from NGOs having arrived for the hearings. “Emmi Fruit” Company intends to implement the project together with the National Park, institutes of NAS RA, universities and Nature Protection Ministry. Under the project, endemic young fish weighing from 20 grams to 200-300 grams will be grown in the enclosed part of the lake. The part of the fish will be let out into the lake, while another part will be sold. The intensive growth of the company intends to be ensured through artificial feeding provided by Biomar Company. National Park director Ashot Gndoyan raised the issue, the growth can’t exceed one gram per day even in case of the best feeding, i.e. it is impossible to ensure quick growth for the period mentioned in the project, from July to November. “Even if there is such an opportunity to ensure quick growth, endemic species can’t be obtained, but a monster,” he said. Deputy Director Vahe Gulanyan said, “There is a problem: if the fish gets used to the artificial forage, it can’t get any food in natural environment. At that time the fish turns into food for birds.” The other problem is connected with the forage, which may get accumulated in the lake thus changing microflora, water temperature, i. e. to deteriorate its quality. In viewpoint of law there is also a problem: the operation of any business entity in lake Sevan in prohibited, while activities promoting to the recovery of endemic population is permitted.

May 12, 2012 at 15:16