Government increases whitefish catch quota by 50 tons

YEREVAN, September 2. /ARKA/. The government of Armenia has increased today the quota for whitefish catch from Lake Sevan in 2021 by 50 tons and has also extended the fishing period until October 15.

Environment Minister Romanos Petrosyan said the quota for commercial catch from Sevan had been originally set at 250 tons and the fishing period until September 1. According to him, no applications were submitted for about 29 tons of whitefish. Also, until August 30, the fishermen were unable to catch about 20 tons of allowed fish due to weather conditions.

The minister explained that the catch period was extended because of the fishermen’s dissatisfaction. Another argument in favor of the decision is that fishing can resolve to some extent the social problems of the local people.

According to the minister, the decision to extend the catch period was separately discussed with scientists of the Scientific Center of Zoology and Hydroecology of the National Academy of Sciences, who suggested increasing the commercial whitefish catch quota by 50 tons. -0-