Based on the requirements of food security of the Republic of Armenia, sustainable use of biological resources in Lake Sevan and conservation of biodiversity, the Ministry of Environment proposes to establish a ban on the export of whitefish caviar from the territory of Armenia for a period of six months. As a result of the process of regulating commercial whitefish hunting in Lake Sevan, in recent years, there has been an increase in whitefish biomass in Lake Sevan (in 2019-2668 tons, in 2020-2345 tons, in 2021-5348 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, the total stock is up to 10,000 tons, the industrial 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, whose caviar would have a production value, since it is still necessary to constantly increase the volume of fish.
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 bioresources formed in recent decades, based on the need to prevent possible negative consequences, the organization of protection and natural reproduction of a wild fish species of high industrial value, this legal act provides to establish a ban on the export of whitefish from the territory of the Republic of Armenia.
The draft of the relevant government decision has been submitted for public discussion on the unified website of the publication of draft legal acts: https://www.e-draft.am/projects/5071.