The fish is endangered, because various competitors were introduced into the lake during the Soviet period, including common whitefish (Coregonus lavaretus) from Lake Ladoga, goldfish (Carassius auratus) and narrow-clawed crayfish (Astacus leptodactylus); and because of lake level change.
The first mention of the settlement comes from 1253 when it was recorded as "Weyze", which was most likely taken from the name of a nearby lake, which in turn was derived from the Lithuanian word vėžės, or crawfish.
Astacus leptodactylus, the "Danube crayfish", "Galician crayfish", "Turkish crayfish" or "narrow-clawed crayfish", is a species of crayfish imported and introduced to Central Europe in 19th century from the Caspian Sea region.