On June 7, 2024, Scientific Center for Zoology and Hydroecology of NAS RA held a session of Biodiversity and Biosafety Problems Council of NAS RA, where the challenges of Lake Sevan were discussed.
"Lake Sevan gives us an example of how nature cannot be dealt with,” Ruben Harutyunyan, Academic Secretary of Department for Natural Sciences of NAS RA, Correspondent Member of NAS RA outlined.
Bardukh Gabrielyan, Chair of Expert Committee for the Conservation of Lake Sevan, spoke of the need to raise the level of Lake Seva by six feet [6 m] to 1903.5 m, which should contribute to the formation of a layer of hypolymnion and improve the water quality of Lake Seva.
Referring to the biodiversity of the lake, he noted that Lake Sevan had three endemic species, which are red listed in Armenia. Among other reasons, fish reserves are affected by the SHPPs built on rivers that flow into Lake Sevan.
Lake Sevan has seen a dramatic decline in crustaceans caused by hunting and crustaceans, whereas crustaceans are the sanitation of the lake, which fed detritus, cleaning the lake with dead animals.
The speaker noted that climate change also has an impact on the lake.
Gor Gevorgyan, Deputy Director of Scientific Center for Zoology and Hydroecology of NAS RA, presented the problems connected with the blooming in the lake.
He noted that they had studied the possibility of algae toxicity. "It is well known that some types of cyanobacteria can produce toxins. Our research has confirmed that this blooming species is a toxic species," Gor Gevorgyan noted. He pointed out that during the blooming season, the water in Lake Sevan should not be used for any purpose. "In irrigation, the same toxins can accumulate in agricultural products and pass through the human body," he outlined.
As a result of this session a package of proposals is developed, which will be submitted to the Armenian Government.
Science Popularization and Public Relations Department of NAS RA
June 11, 2024 at 16:18