At today's meeting, the Government approved the draft government resolution "on the application of a temporary ban on the export of whitefish caviar from the territory of the Republic of Armenia", developed by the Ministry of Environment.
As a result of the process of regulating commercial whitefish fishing in Lake Sevan in recent years, there has been an increase in whitefish biomass in Lake Sevan (in 2019-2,668 tons, in 2020-2,345 tons, in 2021-5,348 tons), which allows for the implementation of commercial fishing in small quantities in Lake Sevan (in 2020-300 tons, in 2021-300 tons, in 2022-600 tons). However, the growth trend of whitefish biomass in recent years has not yet ensured normal growth and the optimal number of wild fish species in the lake (according to some scientific data, up to 10,000 tons of total stock, the commercial catch is about 2,000 tons or more).
Based on the above, we can state that there is no such wild fish species in the Republic of Armenia yet, the caviar of which would have a production value, since a continuous increase in fish volumes is still needed.
Taking into account the fact that the process of regulating commercial whitefish fishing in Lake Sevan is a starting and pilot one, as well as a large negative anthropogenic impact on the lake and the consumer attitude to biological resources formed in recent decades, based on the need to prevent possible negative consequences, the organization of protection and natural reproduction of wild fish of high industrial value, it is planned to establish a ban on export of whitefish caviar from the territory of the Republic of Armenia.