Bojak: Red Data Book of Armenia

Salmons — Salmonidae

Status. An extinct endemic subspecies of the Sevan trout. Listed in the Red Data Book of the former USSR. According to IUCN criteria categorized as Extinct EX.

Distribution in Armenia. Lived only in the Lake Sevan and was not recorded outside of Armenia.

Habitats. Occurred and fed in certain pelagic areas of the Lake Sevan. Preferred the depths 15–40 m, mainly near the bottom.

Biological traits. Maturity was reached at 3–5 years. Fertility was 400–600 eggs. Spawning occurred at the depths from 3–4 m down to 35–40 m on coarse breakstone or sandy grounds, on travertines laid over the underwater spring outlets, from November to March. Fed mainly on hammarids and daphnia.

Population size and its trends. Before the 1970s, it was an abundant fish of commercial importance with the annual harvest rates up to 100 tonnes. The last catch took place in 1986.

Major threats. Poaching and dryout of spawning grounds because of the lowering of lake water level were the principal causes of extinction. No artificial breeding was applied.

Conservation measures. Catch prohibited since 1978. Protected in Sevan. National Park.