Today, an expanded meeting on the program of joint activities and interaction carried out during the whitefish spawning period in Lake Sevan was held at the Ministry of Environment under the leadership of Minister Hakob Simidyan with the participation of Deputy Minister Gayane Gabrielyan, representatives of the Sevan National Park, the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure of RA, the RA Police, the Gegharkunik Regional Administration, Environmental Protection and Mining Inspection Body and the Yerevan Municipality.
Within the framework of joint control measures, representatives of departments will jointly hold meetings with managers, fishermen and citizens of settlements nearby Lake Sevan.
Explanatory work will be carried out on the purpose of the event and upcoming actions, in particular, the ban on whitefish fishing in Lake Sevan in connection with the spawning period of fish. In this context, floating vehicles, fishing and temporary shelters of fishermen will be withdrawn from the territory of the Sevan National Park.
All types of fishing gear and floating vehicles will be prohibited to enter Lake Sevan.
Employees of departments subordinate to the Gegharkunik, Kotayk, Tavush and Vayots Dzor regional police departments will establish 24-hour strict control on all forest roads zoning Lake Sevan, checkpoints will be set up at the exits from Gegharkunik region.
A 24-hour duty will be established in the territory of Sevan National Park.
As part of the events, inspections will be organized in the markets of Yerevan and the regions aimed at preventing the sale of whitefish from Lake Sevan. Inspections will also be carried out on Lake Sevan and other territories of the Sevan National Park.
Minister Hakob Simidyan noted the importance of effective implementation of all the points of the event, ensuring their consistency and continuity.
"One of the most important points of such strict control measures is the organization of explanatory work with residents and fishermen of the coastal communities of Lake Sevan. Control measures should not lead to resistance among citizens.
Our citizens should clearly realize that such regulations pursue one goal - to restore the ecosystem of Lake Sevan through the restoration of fish resources, which comes from the interests of every citizen of the Republic of Armenia," the Minister said and asked colleagues to take a more responsible approach to solving this problem of national importance.
Possible problems during the implementation of the program were discussed at the meeting, procedures, schedule and other current working issues were clarified.