Professor Bardukh Gabrielyan, Director of the Scientific Center of Zoology and Hydroecology at the Nastional Academy of Sciences of Armenia, today reported some troublesome news regarding fish stocks in Lake Sevan

At a press conference, Gabrielyan said that Lake Sevan's fish stocks have declined this year when compared to 2018.

"As you know, every year the environment ministry instructs us to conduct bio-research at the lake. I have to say that this year, unlike other years, we are in worse shape,” Gabrielyan said.

Over the past 4 years, according to the professor, whitefish stocks have increased, and could have increased more if proper conservation methods had been implemented.

Gabrielyan claimed that there is no conservation strategies in place  for the lake’s bio-resources, as both caviar and breeding fish are sold everywhere.

“Crayfish is the other important bio-resource of great commercial value. For many years we have insisted that if non-managed collection takes place, we will be faced with the same situation of our fish stocks. Today, we are faced with the fact that we have a depleted crayfish stock in Lake Sevan,” Gabrielyan told reporters.

One of the reasons for the decline in crayfish stocks, according to the professor, is overfishing. Gabrielyan said he and his colleagues would file a proposal with the ministry banning crayfish harvesting at Lake Sevan for 2020.

Gabrielyan said that the center has also studied the algae blooms that have stuck Sevan for the past two summers.