EcoLur from Gegharkounik Region
What Sevan basin residents think about the public policy and programs in regard with preservation of Lake Sevan. It’s time for Noraduz Village.
“Trout can’t be trout, if it is fed with chemicals. The program on artificial raising of the trout directly in Lake Sevan cause contradictory opinions. If the trout is let out into Sevan and then is fed with artificial forage, this is already not Sevan trout, but a kind of unclear Sevan trout, as the Sevan trout should live in Sevan and feed in natural manner. If any fish is let out into Sevan, it won’t naturally turn into trout, but it will be Sevan fish,” says Noraduz Village Head Murad Harutyunyan. We speak about the business program of artificial spawning of the trout in Lake Sevan presented by “Emmi Fruit” Company in the public hearings at Sevan National Park on 10 May. Accroding to this program, the young fish of trout species must be fed with artificial forage in fenced sections of the lake and due to this the fish will increase their weight in shortest time, afterwards the fish will be let out into the lake. The communities located in Sevan basin were not invited to this hearing.
- How do you assess the program on recovering fish reserves? – The village doesn’t take part in this programs. I definitely assess these programs positively. If Lake Sevan has any fish reserves, it’s only due to these young fish. – What will you say about the whitefish? – We have good conditions for the recovery of the whitefish. If not to fish them for several years, the reserves will recover by themselves. No artificial methods are needed, let them spawn the trout, while the whitefish will spawn by itself, just no fishing. – Is fishing much? – I don’t know, how many villages there are on the shore, they all poach in Sevan. We all used to make our money on the fish. It used to feed villages, Armenia and even Georgia. Now all are leaving Armenia. Those who left sell crayfish and fish crucian carp. – What should be done not to fish and to stop this illegal business? To enhance the control? – We need plants, where people can get jobs, that’s it. – But in the Soviet period there were plant operating, nevertheless, poaching still existed. – Yes, there were, but a few. The fishing was planned and the poachers didn’t have large market.
- Which problem for Sevan you think is the most important? – Cleaning shores (which should be under water as a result of increase in lake level). – How many hectares have been cleaned? – I don’t know, this is the territory of national park. But cleaning is needed, as it disturbs everybody.
June 01, 2012 at 13:46