136
4.7 t year
−1 (Kasymov 1972 ). Rudd ( Scardinius
erythrophthalmus ), perch, tench, bream, pike,
wels , Alburnus charusini and several other fi sh
species are present in the lake.
Lake Ritsa (altitude 925 m) harbours trout
stocks.
For Azerbaijan, Kasymov ( 1972 ) mentioned
ten lakes of fi shery importance. Amongst them,
Lake Geigel (1,571 m; 79 ha) has trout which
supports recreational fi shery.
In fi ne, with regard to the HA lentic bodies of
Caucasus, it could be said that a number of coldwater lakes, all considerably smaller than Lake
Sevan, appear to be suitable for fi sh production in
the countries of the Caucasus. The prime candidates are the fi sh species like the indigenous
khramulya, which in most such lakes should fi nd
suffi cient supply of its favourite food, i.e. periphyton, detritus and algae. Coregonids and silver
carp would complement the fi sh community as
plankton feeders. The indigenous race of common carp from the high altitude Lake Paravan
appears a suitable addition to the above species.
Restoration of Lake Sevan anticipates an
increase in the lake level by 6–8 m and decreased
inputs of nutrients, which combined should
reduce the current level of eutrophication and
improve DO conditions (Hovhanissian 1994).
A higher water level could restore some of the
lost spawning grounds of Sevan trout, khramulya
and barbel. Further, spawning grounds could
be made from gravel, both in the lake and in the
infl owing rivers. Sevan trout transferred in the
past into Lake Issyk Kul could be re-introduced
to enrich the gene pool of the stocks remaining in
Lake Sevan. However, it is believed that the lake
will probably never recover its pristine state.
The current diffi cult economic situation in
Armenia has led to a decline in research and
monitoring. Meybeck et al. ( 1997 ) concluded
that re-activating regular scientifi c work and
monitoring will depend on the economic recovery of the country and international assistance.
6.9.2.8 High Altitude Lentic Bodies
of China
In China, there are a large number of lentic bodies
in the spread across the length and breadth of the
country. Of these, the waterbodies in the remote
provinces of Qinghai, Xinjiang and Xizang
(Tibet) in western China have shery potential.
These are small by world standards but signifi -
cant nonetheless. Although the region (altitude
>3,000 m) is arid and cold, there are many lakes
and rivers fed by run-off from nearby mountains,
and the region supports 190 fi sh species notably
the native naked carp (or ‘snow trout’; Cyprinidae:
Schizothoracinae). A growing population (21
million) has encouraged the expansion of capture
fi sheries and aquaculture. Notably, large-scale
fi shing in several lakes began in 1958. Production
followed a typical pattern, with high initial yields
later declining as the larger fi sh were removed.
After 1978, operations were rationalised by the
introduction of Fishery Management Stations.
A brief general account of the HA lakes of China
is given below; while some of the HA lakes have
been individually described as typical examples.
Qinghai , Xinjiang and Xizang ( Tibet ) are the
three westernmost provinces of China.
They are neighbours to Afghanistan,
Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, the Russian
Federation and Mongolia in the west and north;
and India, Bhutan, Nepal and Pakistan in the
south. The region is mountainous, bounded by
the Himalayas to the south and the Karakoram to
the west.
Lake Aiding (154 m below sea level), the lowest point in China: Not much information is available for this region. It is because most of the
published records are in Chinese and not easily
accessible to scientists in other countries. The
region is mainly arid. However, many large rivers, notably the Brahmaputra (Yarlung Zangbo),
the Mekong (Lancang), the Yangtze (Changjiang),
etc., originate from the nearby slopes of the
Himalayas. Run-offs from the mountains amount
to 608 km
3 or >70 % of China’s total water
resources. The total lake area exceeds 40,000 km
2 ,
including 10 of the 22 Chinese lakes with areas
>500 km
2 (Wang 1987 ).
Further, results of the Fisheries Development
programme in Qinghai Province , undertaken in
1989–1992 by the Chinese Government in collaboration with UNDP and the FAO of the United
Nations (Edwards 1992 ; Walker et al. 1996 ),
6 Lakes of the World
4.7 t year
−1 (Kasymov 1972 ). Rudd ( Scardinius
erythrophthalmus ), perch, tench, bream, pike,
wels , Alburnus charusini and several other fi sh
species are present in the lake.
Lake Ritsa (altitude 925 m) harbours trout
stocks.
For Azerbaijan, Kasymov ( 1972 ) mentioned
ten lakes of fi shery importance. Amongst them,
Lake Geigel (1,571 m; 79 ha) has trout which
supports recreational fi shery.
In fi ne, with regard to the HA lentic bodies of
Caucasus, it could be said that a number of coldwater lakes, all considerably smaller than Lake
Sevan, appear to be suitable for fi sh production in
the countries of the Caucasus. The prime candidates are the fi sh species like the indigenous
khramulya, which in most such lakes should fi nd
suffi cient supply of its favourite food, i.e. periphyton, detritus and algae. Coregonids and silver
carp would complement the fi sh community as
plankton feeders. The indigenous race of common carp from the high altitude Lake Paravan
appears a suitable addition to the above species.
Restoration of Lake Sevan anticipates an
increase in the lake level by 6–8 m and decreased
inputs of nutrients, which combined should
reduce the current level of eutrophication and
improve DO conditions (Hovhanissian 1994).
A higher water level could restore some of the
lost spawning grounds of Sevan trout, khramulya
and barbel. Further, spawning grounds could
be made from gravel, both in the lake and in the
infl owing rivers. Sevan trout transferred in the
past into Lake Issyk Kul could be re-introduced
to enrich the gene pool of the stocks remaining in
Lake Sevan. However, it is believed that the lake
will probably never recover its pristine state.
The current diffi cult economic situation in
Armenia has led to a decline in research and
monitoring. Meybeck et al. ( 1997 ) concluded
that re-activating regular scientifi c work and
monitoring will depend on the economic recovery of the country and international assistance.
6.9.2.8 High Altitude Lentic Bodies
of China
In China, there are a large number of lentic bodies
in the spread across the length and breadth of the
country. Of these, the waterbodies in the remote
provinces of Qinghai, Xinjiang and Xizang
(Tibet) in western China have shery potential.
These are small by world standards but signifi -
cant nonetheless. Although the region (altitude
>3,000 m) is arid and cold, there are many lakes
and rivers fed by run-off from nearby mountains,
and the region supports 190 fi sh species notably
the native naked carp (or ‘snow trout’; Cyprinidae:
Schizothoracinae). A growing population (21
million) has encouraged the expansion of capture
fi sheries and aquaculture. Notably, large-scale
fi shing in several lakes began in 1958. Production
followed a typical pattern, with high initial yields
later declining as the larger fi sh were removed.
After 1978, operations were rationalised by the
introduction of Fishery Management Stations.
A brief general account of the HA lakes of China
is given below; while some of the HA lakes have
been individually described as typical examples.
Qinghai , Xinjiang and Xizang ( Tibet ) are the
three westernmost provinces of China.
They are neighbours to Afghanistan,
Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, the Russian
Federation and Mongolia in the west and north;
and India, Bhutan, Nepal and Pakistan in the
south. The region is mountainous, bounded by
the Himalayas to the south and the Karakoram to
the west.
Lake Aiding (154 m below sea level), the lowest point in China: Not much information is available for this region. It is because most of the
published records are in Chinese and not easily
accessible to scientists in other countries. The
region is mainly arid. However, many large rivers, notably the Brahmaputra (Yarlung Zangbo),
the Mekong (Lancang), the Yangtze (Changjiang),
etc., originate from the nearby slopes of the
Himalayas. Run-offs from the mountains amount
to 608 km
3 or >70 % of China’s total water
resources. The total lake area exceeds 40,000 km
2 ,
including 10 of the 22 Chinese lakes with areas
>500 km
2 (Wang 1987 ).
Further, results of the Fisheries Development
programme in Qinghai Province , undertaken in
1989–1992 by the Chinese Government in collaboration with UNDP and the FAO of the United
Nations (Edwards 1992 ; Walker et al. 1996 ),
6 Lakes of the World