EcoLur
Lake Sevan is jeopardized: “Complex Program for Recovery of Trout Reserves and Fish Breeding in Lake Sevan” has been submitted for the approval of the Armenian Government. The program plans to produce 50,000 tons of fish per year in Lake Sevan by using 50,000 tons of artificial forage. In parallel with this program the Armenian Government has been submitted another hazardous project: to make water outlets from Lake Sevan from 170 million sq. meters to 240 sq. meters.
On 11 December EcoLur Press club hosted the consultation of the Public Environmental Alliance on Lake Sevan with the participation of the mass media and the representative of Nature Protection Ministry as an observer.
“Fish breeding development program in Sevan contradicts to two main laws, that of “On Lake Sevan” and “On Specially Protected Areas”,” noted Amalya Hambardzumyan, “Khazer” Environmental-Cultural NGO President. Under her, the ecosystem of Lake Sevan needs to be recovered and to improve water quality at the expense of increase in Lake Sevan level and reduction of water pollution, and not the vice versa.
“If we want to breed the trout, whether we should do it at the expense of the artificial forage? The fish species having appeared in Lake Sevan didn’t appear there because of good ecological situation of Lake Sevan, they appeared in the lake with the violation of its regime. We should focus on it,” said Public Environmental Alliance Coordinator Silva Adamyan.
“At present the priority is the improvement of Lake Sevan water quality rather than the recovery of the fish reserves,” said Lilik Simonyan, Expert at “Armenian Women for Health and Healthy Environment” NGO.
“The Armenian Government wants to participate in this business program and to yield Sevan,” noted Maikon Ghasabyan, “Union for the Protection of Armenian Birds” NGO Chairman.
Lake Sevan Issues Committee doesn’t oppose to the program: they say we will control it for the forage not to pollute the lake, we will give pieces of advice when and how to fill the forage and they will supervise the amount. “The Committee particularly focuses on 23 billion AMD, which the company plans to provide to Lake Sevan Recovery, Preservation and Development Fund. What will be left from Lake Sevan, while the business entities will provide these funds and it’s unclear who will manage these funds,” said “EcoLur” NGO Chairman Inga Zarafyan, “It’s just a business and has no environmental sense.”
The Alliance has decided to address a letter to the factions in the National Assembly of Armenia and the Armenian Government demanding to stop the destruction of Lake Sevan. The letter will soon be published.
December 12, 2013 at 16:51