How to utilize water resources in Ararat artesian basin efficiently simultaneously increasing fish production volumes

Ararat artesian basin has strategic importance for the whole country. For its qualities it is the main water supply source of the region. Due to inefficient use of groundwater resources in Ararat valley, the artesian basin has suffered greatly, hence jeopardizing the whole region’s environment. Notable share in the use of groundwater resources belongs to fish farms. Currently, through the study of production models of small and medium fish farming enterprises, an attempt is made by the Sustainable Fisheries for Enhanced Water Resources in Armenia (SFEWRA) project of ICARE (funded by the USAID Partnerships for Enhanced Engagement in Research (PEER) Program) to elaborate and develop individual business plans which are guided by modern fish breeding methodologies as well as focus on limiting water extraction, automatically managing water supply and simultaneously increasing production volumes. Physicochemical analyses implemented within the framework of the project have shown that discharge water of fish farms can be used in both agriculture for irrigation purposes and reused in fish farms through the establishment of Recirculation Aquaculture Systems.