Minister Hakob Simidyan met with fish farmers to discuss the procedure for introducing closed circulation systems in fish farms. Deputies of the National Assembly and representatives from interested departments and media took part in the discussion.
The minister presented the changes in the state of underground waters of the Ararat depression during the years 2010-2023, referred to the USAID "Usage of advanced scientific technologies and cooperation for the comprehensive conservation of resources" program in 2016 to the results of the inventory and registration of boreholes, natural springs and fish farms of the Ararat Valley, as well as to the problems clarified as a result of the summary of the researches done by the Center for Hydrometeorology and Monitoring of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine.
So:
In 2016, within the framework of USAID "Use of advanced scientific technologies and cooperation for comprehensive conservation of resources" program. according to the results of the inventory and accounting of boreholes, natural springs and fish farms in the Ararat Valley,
- in 2016 The actual water intake in the Ararat Valley was 1,608.5 million. m3, of which 809.0 million. m3 (or 50%) for the purpose of fish farming,
- 2016 according to water use permits, it was 640 million m3 per year, of which 535 million. m3 (or 85%) for the purpose of fish farming,
- in 2022 according to water use permits, it was 1 billion 100 million m3 per year, of which 857 million. m3 (or 75%) for the purpose of fish farming.
- As a result of summarizing the research done by the Center for Hydrometeorology and Monitoring of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, a number of important issues have been clarified by us.
2016-2017 an increase in the level of groundwater up to 0.36 m above the surface of the earth was observed, as a result of the conservation and dissolution of wells of about 4000 l/s, as well as a 30% reduction of water volumes in fish farms.
In 2018 the average annual groundwater level started to drop by 0.2m and stopped gushing. According to the court's decision, 5 fish farms were reopened with around 4000 l/s.
According to observation indicators, the groundwater level dropped by 1.74 meters in 2019-2023.
The minister also referred to the inventory works of deep wells in Ararat and Armavir marzes by the interdepartmental working group created in 2023. carried out an inventory of 2387 deep wells.
Closed circulation system was also discussed.
- This system will allow to ensure at least 40 percent of the fish farm's output water is reused in the same basins of the same fish farm after cleaning, by taking from the well a maximum of 60 percent of the volume specified by the water use permit and ensuring at least 40 percent water saving of the fish farm's input water.
-Using a maximum of 60 percent of the water intake volume defined by the water use permit will not cause a reduction in the productivity of the fish farm. At least 40 percent of the fish farm's output water will be reused after treatment in the same ponds of the same fish farm, providing 100 percent of the water intake volume defined by the water use permit until then.
- When implementing a closed circulation system, at least 40 percent of the fish farm's output water is enriched with oxygen after treatment and returned to reuse.
- The costs of the acquisition, installation, operation and maintenance of the closed circulation system are paid by the water users at their own expense or through state assistance programs.
An agreement was reached to organize another meeting-discussion on December 19 of this year.