YEREVAN. - The ban on fishing in Lake Sevan will be effective from December 1-25 and January 7-20.

Nature Protection Minister of Armenia Artsvik Minasyan stated the aforementioned in the parliament Wednesday.  

The ban relates not only to cisco but also other types of fish and crayfish, the Minister noted. It has been made only to ensure natural reproduction of fish, he added.  

The Ministry's Nature Protection Inspection and the police are carrying out raids and checks in the lake area and all over the country. Consequently, 440 fish have so far been found.  

''People's aspiration to earn money at any cost can be understood. But my urge and request to the residents of the lake basin, especially in certain coastal settlements, is not to do that during the ban, since now one fish is equal to 100-200 fish in the future. We want to ensure at least 60-70 percent normal fish reproduction,'' the Minister added.

In his words, it is necessary to not only save the fish resources, but also update their assessment. It is now considered that the cisco resources in the lake reach 500 tons, but poachers fish 1 500 – 1 600 kg per year.