Environmental Fees for Whitefish and Crayfish Fishing to Increase 4 Times
In Armenia, environmental fees for whitefish and crayfish fishing will increase 4 times, while fees for hunting animals and birds will increase 2 times. The proposal has been approved by the government. The corresponding amendments to the Tax Code were endorsed during today’s government session.
Specifically, the environmental usage fee for whitefish will rise from 50 to 200 AMD per kilogram, with the same rate to apply for crayfish.
The justification for the decision notes that the average retail price of one kilogram of whitefish in Armenia is approximately 1,000 AMD, while frozen whitefish is exported at around 1,400 AMD per kilogram. The environmental usage fee currently constitutes only 5.7% of the average sale price of whitefish. Therefore, the low rate of the existing fee does not promote the sustainable and rational use of biological resources, particularly whitefish.
This measure is necessary to limit the scale of hunting and fishing and to preserve the country’s biological resources. It will come into effect in 2026.