Fish farmers protest outside Armenian government

Armenian fish farmers staged a protest outside the government building on Tuesday, demanding financial support and criticizing state programs they say have failed to address the industry’s challenges.

“We expect real support programs. Two have already been implemented, but they are unrealistic and bring no positive results to the sector,” said Gor Grigoryan, head of the Armenian Fish Farmers’ Union.

Farmers are seeking a meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Tigran Khachatryan, saying they do not want further talks with the economy minister, whom they have already met. Grigoryan accused the government of making “formal decisions” to give the impression of solving problems without tackling the core issues.

He noted that neither export regulations to Europe nor subsidies have resolved the situation, as the industry is dealing with 15,000 tons of live fish. Farmers want the state to provide temporary financial assistance until export problems are resolved, pledging to repay the funds once the market stabilizes.