Images: 59 Illegal Crab Fishers Removed from Lake Sevan, 231 Live Crabs Returned to the Lake

Within the framework of monitoring activities, 59 illegal crab fishers have been removed from Lake Sevan, and a total of 231 live crabs have been returned to the lake. This was reported by the Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Armenia.

“Today, as a result of monitoring activities carried out by the special purpose unit of the 'Sevan' National Park, 59 illegal crab fishers have been seized from the water area known as 'White Shore' of the Norashen Reserve, and 231 live crabs have been returned to the lake,” the statement reads.

According to the government's decision, only commercial fishing for trout is permitted in Lake Sevan, and there are no established limits for crab fishing. The fishing gear removed from the lake is included in the list of prohibited fishing gear.

It is worth noting that according to Article 88 of the Administrative Offenses Code of the Republic of Armenia, violating the rules for protecting animal, including fish stocks, hunting, and other types of use of wildlife results in fines imposed on citizens ranging from seventy times to one hundred forty times the established minimum wage, and for officials, from one hundred times to two hundred times, with confiscation of firearms and hunting equipment owned by the violator, as well as other items and animals considered tools for committing the aforementioned violations.

Significant violations of hunting rules (hunting without permission, or in prohibited areas, or at prohibited times, or with prohibited tools or methods), as well as regular violations of other hunting regulations, result in fines imposed on citizens ranging from one hundred fifty times to two hundred fifty times the established minimum wage, and for officials, from one hundred seventy times to two hundred fifty times, with confiscation of firearms and hunting equipment owned by the violator, as well as other items and animals considered tools for committing the violations and depriving the right to hunt for up to 3 years,” the statement concludes.