Video: Protest by Fish Farm Representatives Near the Ministry of Environment

A group of citizens gathered early in the morning and organized a protest near the government’s third building. According to them, the reason for the protest is a recently adopted law in the National Assembly concerning fish farming industries.

Representatives from fish farms held a demonstration outside the Ministry of Environment, expressing their dissatisfaction with the amendments to the water code. They have already met with the Minister of Environment Hakob Simidyan, who stated during the meeting: "The condition of artesian waters in the Ararat plain is catastrophic, thus it is essential to preserve water resources."

Simidyan noted that the ministry conducted a study monitoring 55 sites of artesian water and documented a decrease in water levels. Consequently, he considers it mandatory to reduce the loss of water resources in all possible directions.

In response, fish farming representatives pointed out that they possess information regarding illegal water usage and ineffective management of water resources, raising these issues, but the ministry has ignored them. "We can show all illegal wells that do not have meters. Can you start working on that now?" one participant said during the meeting.

It should be noted that the representatives of fish farms are dissatisfied with their meeting with Minister Hakob Simidyan. "We are not satisfied with the meeting; regarding the main issue that concerns us, the minister initially stated that we misunderstood the essence of the law, meaning there is no talk of shutting off water or reducing its volume. Personally, I asked what the purpose of installing a system is if the water is supposed to be saved and 40 percent returned to the same enterprises, and economic growth is to be recorded. However, if water extraction from underground is to continue at the same volume, then what is the saving of water supposed to achieve? There was no answer to that," said a participant in the meeting.

He emphasized that the minister did not provide any guarantees that he would not propose any legislative initiatives to reduce water usage volumes in the future.

The fish farmer also mentioned that there is one positive aspect to all of this: starting next week, group work will resume, and the government will make a decision regarding the installation of closed systems. They have been assured that this matter will be discussed with them.

It was noted that after next week’s meeting with Simidyan, they would decide on their further actions. Fish farmers are convinced that the Ministry of Environment intends to save water at their expense and will not eliminate losses or seal off illegal water wells that do not have installed meters.

It should be reminded that on November 22, the National Assembly adopted a draft amendment to the water code in the second and final reading, according to which Armenian fish farming enterprises that receive water from underground wells must use water circulation-saving systems. As stated by Minister of Environment Hakob Simidyan when presenting the bill, such systems should allow for the reuse of at least 40 percent of the water.