Armenia’s Ministry of Environment has put up for public discussion a draft government decision to extend the temporary ban on the export of whitefish caviar.
According to the explanatory note, the restriction will take effect on January 2, 2027 and remain in force for six months. The ministry says the move is needed to safeguard Armenia’s food security, ensure the sustainable use of Lake Sevan’s living resources and preserve biodiversity.
The ministry says regulation of commercial whitefish fishing in Lake Sevan has produced a relatively stable biomass in recent years: 2,668 tonnes in 2019, 2,345 tonnes in 2020, 5,348 tonnes in 2021, 4,700 tonnes in 2022, 3,974 tonnes in 2023, 1,293 tonnes in 2024 and 3,591.8 tonnes in 2025. According to the draft, that made it possible to carry out commercial fishing of 300 tonnes in 2020 and 2021, 600 tonnes in 2022 and 2023, 679 tonnes in 2024 and 1,123 tonnes in 2025.
At the same time, the document stresses that the growth trend in biomass is still not sufficient to ensure the natural increase and optimal quantity of wild fish species in the lake. Some scientific estimates put the total stock at up to 10,000 tonnes, with commercial catches at around 2,000 tonnes or more.
The authors of the draft say one of the main conditions for sustainable commercial whitefish harvesting in Lake Sevan is securing natural reproduction. Based on recent years’ experience, the explanatory note argues that when natural reproduction is maintained, stable commercial volumes can also be preserved.
To that end, and to prevent poaching, a comprehensive programme of strict measures is implemented every year from late November to February of the following year. The ministry also says exports of whitefish caviar, which is highly valued on international markets, could create additional risks both for biological resource conservation and through increased human pressure.
The proposed legal act therefore envisages banning exports of whitefish caviar from the territory of the Republic of Armenia for another six months, starting on January 2, 2027.
