Project Detail

Conservation of the fish stock through awareness raising of citizens and state policy reforms

In recent decades, fish stocks of industrial and economic significance in Armenian freshwater have drastically declined as a result of a number of anthropogenic factors, such as unsustainable use of water resources, exploitation of hydraulic facilities, and particularly unregulated fishing and poaching. As a result, only 10 out of the 22 native fish species of Armenian freshwater are found in the national Red Book, and many of the economically valuable species have been exterminated, and they are currently under extinction. The situation is partly conditioned by weak legal framework, that does not clearly regulate the permissions, procedures and conditions for amateur fishing. These factors have directly resulted in overexploitation of fish stocks by uncontrolled and destructive fishing practices.
The project aims to promote conservation of fish stocks in the freshwater of Armenia through raising public awareness and initiating state policy reforms in fishery sector.
The project will be implemented in the following three stages that are characterized by a distinct set of activities. In the first stage, draft materials on species composition and biological characteristics of fish found in Armenia?s freshwaters, as well as current rules and restrictions on fishing practices will be developed. At the same time, the legislative framework regulating the amateur fishing will be studied and analyzed to identify the existing problems and challenges and well as develop draft legislative and normative acts for further discussion and endorsement. In the second stage, materials on differentiation of fish species by their biological features will be developed as well as current state and proposed reforms on legislation framework of recreational fishing will be discussed with amateur fishermen and respective NGOs in the riparian communities. Meanwhile, legislative changes for improving fishery regulations and fish stocks conservation policies will be discussed with the respective government agencies. In the final stage, knowledge materials will be developed and published, as well as drafts of legislative reforms on recreational fishing and fish stocks conservation will be developed.

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Project Snapshot

Grantee:

Professional Education Reforms NGO

Country:

Armenia

Area Of Work:

Biodiversity

Operational Phase:

OP6 - Y5 (Jul 19-Jun 20)

Grant Amount:

US$ 26,847.00

Co-Financing Cash:

US$ 320.00

Co-Financing in-Kind:

US$ 5,570.00

Project Number:

ARM/SGP/OP6/Y5/STAR/BD/19/29

Start Date:

12/2019

End Date:

4/2021

Status:

Satisfactorily Completed

Project Characteristics and Results

Notable Community Participation

Amateur fishermen from all regions of Armenia, industrial fishing companies and fishers unions and other relevant NGOs, as well as government representatives in charge of fishery sector will be involved in the project implementation. It is planned to consider their concerns and suggestions when developing policy recommendations to improve fisheries management. This process includes compilation of needs assessment combined by different tools, such as interviews, focus groups, questionnaires, roundtables, etc. The draft documents developed by the experts based on the opinions and suggestions will be then discussed by the stakeholders for finalization. Within the project, special attention will be paid to youth involvement in the project. The project will encourage local youth to participate in the planned meetings, discussions and trainings to raise their awareness and knowledge on fish species, sustainable fishing and fish stocks conservation practices.

Promoting Public Awareness of Global Environment

Awareness raising component is in the core of the project implementation. In order to ensure wider participation and involvement of local communities in the project activities, it is planned to post announcements on upcoming meetings, discussions or trainings in the local municipalities, schools, collages well in advance. The project activities are aimed at disseminating knowledge on fish species identification, permissible catches and fish stock conservation necessity among communities adjacent to reservoirs and rivers, as well as visiting fishermen. At the same time, drafts of normative documents regulating industrial and amateur fishing will be developed and provided to the Ministry of Environment, which will promote conservation and rational use of fish stocks in the rivers, lakes and reservoirs of Armenia on the one hand, and significant increase in electronic permits issued to amateur fishermen on the other hand.

Policy Impact

Currently, there are many challenges in the legislative and normative field regulating amateur and industrial fishing. In the RA Law on ?Hunting and Management of Hunting?, fishing is considered within the concept of ?hunting?. To solve this issue, first of all it is necessary to split out these definitions in the RA Law on ?Hunting and Management of Hunting?. The project aims at the elaboration of the RA Law on ?Hunting and Management of Hunting?, where the definition of hunting will be split out, the procedures for acquiring permits will be set and the concepts of "hunting, fishing, industrial hunting, amateur hunting" will be clearly defined. It is also planned to have the electronic system of applications for amateur fishing and hunting permits, as well as regulation of contracts issued for the use of fauna for social purposes.

Gender Focus

In Armenia, the majority of people engaged in amateur fishing are men, and the percentage of women is very low. In this respect, the project does not specifically include gender issues. However, guidebooks, leaflets, and posters on fish species developed within the project will also be disseminated among schools, vocational institutions and universities, promoting environmental education and awareness raising of students.

Capacity - Building Component

In order to improve the effective use and management of reservoirs, lakes and rivers, different activities on enhancing fishermen capacities will be implemented. In particular, development of a guide, leaflets and posters will help raise awareness among the wider public on identification of fish species existing in Armenian freshwaters and conservation measures. It is planned to inform communities, amateur fishermen, fishing and hunting NGOs, as well as decision-makers on the content and restrictions of the existing legislation and respective regulations in the fisheries sector, to enable proper conservation activities and further restoration of fish stocks.

Emphasis on Sustainable Livelihoods

It is envisaged that increased fish stock will provide better incomes and/or reduce vulnerability for ?traditional? fishers. Moreover, in view of a growing nature tourism industry, the development of fish tourism may be perceived as an alternative employment opportunity other than traditional fishing activities.

Policy Influence

Legislative amendment proposed for improving fishing and fish stocks conservation policy and opportunities for their implementation will be discussed with the environmental policy-makers and relevant supervising agencies. A recommendation package for legislative reforms on fishing and fish stocks conservation will be developed, and draft materials will also be provided to respective state agencies, in particular Ministry of Environment, Regional Administrations and Municipality of Yerevan. It is envisaged that once the normative reforms in the amateur fishing sector are adopted, fishing permits will be issued electronically. Drafts of legislative and normative acts to improve fishing and fish stock conservation policy, defining fish species and its sizes to be hunted, determining the rights and responsibilities of amateur fishermen, simplifying fishing permits will be provided to the Ministry of Environment.

Project sustainability

Local and amateur fishermen are the main ones who, by acquiring knowledge on sustainable fishing and their hunting permits, can share it among their peers. Dissemination materials provided by the project are quite easy to understand, so it is easy to reproduce. Changes to the regulatory framework in the fishing sector will also substantially enhance fishing reforms and ultimately contribute to the sustainable use and long-term conservation of fish stocks. It is envisaged that the changes in the legislation, determination of fish species and allowed sizes to catch, regulating the rights and duties of amateur fishermen, as well as introduction of simplified procedures for fishing permits will ensure sustainable fishing and further conservations of fish stocks in the Armenian freshwaters.

Significant Participation of Indigenous Peoples

N/A

Linkages gef projects

N/A

Planning gef grant

N/A

Planning non gef grant

N/A

Replication of project activities

N/A

Inovative Financial Mechanisms

The project will focus on building capacities of community-level stakeholder for fisheries management. Project outputs, experience and lessons learned will be disseminated to stakeholders across all regions and at national level (environmental protection, territorial governance bodies, etc.) through project reports and public events. Information on fish species, fish stock conservation and legislative reforms will be disseminated among amateur fishermen, fishers unions and NGOs, local governments, educational institutions and other organizations.

Project Results

The project will produce the following results:
1. Draft legislative and normative documents are developed to ensure conservation and effective exploitation of fish stocks;
2. Awareness of amateur fishermen, respective NGOs and decision-making authorities is raised on fish species, fish stock conservation and legislative reforms;
3. Knowledge materials (guide, leaflets and posters) on fish species found in the Armenian freshwater and conservation measures are disseminated among project stakeholders and decision-makers.

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Indicators

Biophysical

Number of globally significant species protected by project 7

Empowerment

Number and type of support linkages established with national government institutions 2

Livehood

Number of individuals (gender diaggregated) who have benefited* from SGP project 500

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