Temporary Ban on Exporting Sig Fish Eggs from Armenia

A six-month ban on the export of sig fish eggs originating from the Republic of Armenia will be implemented. The draft decision is included in the agenda for tomorrow's cabinet meeting.

The justification states that the necessity for the adoption of the government decision regarding the temporary export ban on sig fish eggs stems from the demands of food security in the Republic of Armenia, the sustainable use of biological resources in Lake Sevan, and the preservation of biodiversity.

As a result of regulatory processes concerning the commercial fishing of sig in Lake Sevan in recent years, there has been a noticeable stable biomass of sig in the lake. Ensuring natural reproduction is one of the key conditions for a sustainable commercial catch of sig in Lake Sevan.

Recent experience indicates that maintaining stable commercial catch volumes can be achieved when natural reproduction of sig is ensured. To this end, every year from late November to February, a comprehensive program of strict measures is implemented during the ban on sig fishing to exclude illegal fishing activities.

The legal act is intended to establish a ban on the export of sig fish eggs from the territory of the Republic of Armenia to prevent possible negative consequences of exporting sig fish eggs, which have high value in international markets, as well as to mitigate the potential negative impacts of anthropogenic pressures and the consumer attitude formed towards biological resources. This is essential for the preservation and normal reproduction of fish species with high industrial value.