10 Thousand Tons of Fish Have Been Removed from the Lake, They Showed 350 Tons on Paper: Fisherman

Call the Minister of Environment, let him come and answer us: This was stated today, October 20, by one of the fishermen who blocked the Sevan-Yerevan highway, addressing Gegharkunik Governor Karen Sargsyan. They are protesting against the current regulation, according to which commercial fishing is allowed until October under certain size restrictions, and then fishing is prohibited. This was reported by news.am.

The governor responded that there is a government decision that cannot be ignored, to which the fisherman declared that there is no government in that country. “We changed the government so that it would work for the people, but it isn’t working,” he said.

When the governor asked them to open the road and give time for the issue to be discussed by the government, one of the villagers replied, “You are saying it wrong. You should say, 'Go about your business, work peacefully, while I find a solution to your issue.'”

One of the protesters noted that actually the relevant authorities are not working well; inspectors come and record 1 kg for a fisherman who catches 100 kg, and 2 kg for one who catches 200 kg. “10 thousand tons of fish have been removed from the lake, and they have shown only 350 tons on paper. Only that 350 thousand tons' worth has been paid into the budget. Now whether the director of the national park is involved with the mafia, the minister is involved with the mafia, or Nikol is, let them figure it out among themselves,” he emphasized.

Another fisherman highlighted, “We earn our bread this way; if that’s cut, we will become criminals. We need to catch fish. They took that boat themselves, which they were using to take away or destroy [the fish].”