Untitled Document

INFORMATION ON FISHERIES MANAGEMENT IN THE FEDERAL DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF ETHIOPIA

January 2003

LOCATION OF COMMERCIALLY IMPORTANT LANDING SITES

There are numerous landing sites in the commercial fisheries on freshwater waterbodies, but the bulk of the catch (70-80 percent of the total catch) is landed through one major outlet, Bahir dar on Lake Tana. Table 1 lists the most important sites and landing data.

Table 1. Commercially important landing sites
Waterbody	Main landing site	Coordinates	Area (km²)	Potential (tonne/year)	Total landings (2001; tonne)	Offtake
Tana	Bahir Dar	11°38’ N, 37°10’ E	3 500	10 000	1 454	15%
Lugo	Lugo	11°40’ N, 39°40’ E	25	400	330	83%
Koka Reservoir	Koka	8°25’ N, 38°05’ E	255	700	625	89%
Ziway	Ziway	8°00’ N, 38°43’ E	434	2 941	2 454	83%
Langano	Oittu	7°42’ N, 38°47’ E	230	240	151	63%
Awassa	Awassa	7°04’ N, 38°31’ E	91	611	853	140%
Abaya	Arbamich	6°02’ N, 37°06’ E	1 070	600	412	69%
Chamo	Arbaminch	6°02’ N, 37°06’ E	350	4 500	4 359	97%
Total			5 955	19 992	10 638	53%

FISHERIES MANAGEMENT

Sector overview

Broad objectives

Consistent with the rural and agricultural sector policy objectives, fishery is increasingly recognized as an alternative means of addressing the problems of food security and poverty in the country, with the following specific objectives.

increase fish consumption and the nutritional status of the population, particularly in rural areas;
improve employment and income opportunities, and hence the living conditions of fishery communities;
improve post-harvest activities to cut losses and improve fish quality;
supply industries and export markets with sufficient quantities of good quality fish;
increase fisheries contribution to national income, including export earnings;
improve complementarity and efficiency in fish farming systems through integration with other agricultural activities; and
ensure sustainable use of fish stock and the aquatic environment.

OVERVIEW OF GOVERNMENT STRATEGY

Ethiopia has already adopted and is implementing a strategy of Agriculture Development Led Industrialization (ADLI). The rationale behind the strategy is that rural areas and the agricultural sector, with 85 percent of the total population, are the basis for bringing about rapid and equitable economic growth and development in the country. Contained in this broad strategy is the concept of best use of the country's fisheries resources to contribute to the desired socio-economic development in the country.

In line with this, the agriculture sector should be transformed from a smallholder subsistence farming system to a market oriented system, through use of improved and adaptive technology and extension packages. The country's artisanal fishery is integral to this transformation process. In addition, the development of small-scale rural aquaculture in the country receives high priority in the task of achieving food security, and will be a prominent element in water harvesting and agricultural development programmes and projects.

In the Second Five-Year Agricultural Development Plan (2001-2005), the following targets are laid down for fisheries:

Improve knowledge of the fisheries resources base.
Effective introduction of aquaculture practices,
Improve fishery technologies and fish quality to meet the requirements of both domestic and export markets.
Build capacity by providing training for 1 438 fishery personnel and for over 20 000 fishers and fish farmers.
Further encourage fishery community development and private sector participation.
Double total fish production.
Ensure conservation of the fisheries resources and the aquatic system.

DESCRIPTION OF THE CURRENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS

Yet Ethiopia has no fisheries laws in force. The fishery is open access and consequently there has been localized overfishing. Some commercially important species are already at risk of overexploitation, including Nile perch in Lake Chamo, and tilapia in Lakes Awassa and Ziway.

Even though late, national fisheries legislation has been drafted, and this awaits approval by the government. Consistent with this draft legislation, some regional authorities are drafting their own fisheries legislation and regulations. Both the federal and regional fisheries legislation and regulations are expected to be ratified in 2002/03.

A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE RESOURCE

For the sake of convenience, the country's waterbodies are classified into four systems: lakes; reservoirs; rivers; and small waterbodies. The lakes and rivers support highly diverse aquatic life, ranging from giant mammals like the African Hippopotamus, to microscopic fauna and flora. The natural ichthyofauna is also diverse, with more than 100 fish species, of which about 40 are endemic to the country.

Including exotic species, about ten different species have been used for stocking artificial waterbodies.

MAIN WATERBODIES OF ETHIOPIA AND THEIR FISHERIES

Table 2. Summary of Ethiopian waterbodies and their fisheries
Waterbody type	Extent	Fishery potential (tonne/year)	Catch (tonne; 2001)	Offtake
Major lakes	6 477 km²	23 342	10 598	45%
Major reservoirs and dams	857 km²	4 399	1 366	31%
Small waterbodies	275 km²	1 952	303	16%
Rivers	7 185 km	21 788	3 121	14%
Total		51 481	15 389	30%

Table 3. Major lakes
Waterbody	Altitude (m)	Shoreline (km)	Mean depth (m)	Area (km²)	Fishery potential (tonne/yr)	Catch (2001; tonne)	Offtake
Tana	1829	385	8	3 500	10 000	1 454	15%
Ardibo and Lugo	670	–	37	51	400	330	83%
Ziway	1848	102	2.5	434	2 941	2 454	83%
Langano	1585	78	12	225	240	151	63%
Abijata	1578	–	7.6	205	2 000	500	25%
Shalla	1558	–	87	250	1 300	10	1%
Awassa	1708	52	11	97	611	853	140%
Abaya	1285	225	7	1 070	600	412	69%
Chamo	1282	118	6	551	4 500	4 359	97%
Turkana (from 1.3% of total area)	365	–	33	94	750	75	10%
Subtotal				6 477	23 342	10 598	45%

Table 4. Major reservoirs and dams
Reservoir or dam	Area (km²)	Fishery potential⁽¹⁾ (tonne/year)	Catch (2001; tonne)	Offtake
Koka	255	1 194	625	52%
Fincha-Amerti	250	1 330	333	25%
Beseka	39	205	41	20%
Denbi	72	383	77	20%
Melka Wakena	82	434	109	25%
Aba-samuel	44	234	59	25%
Alwero dam	74	394	79	20%
Hashengie	20	106	21	20%
Small Abya	12	66	13	20%
Wedecha	10	53	11	20%
Subtotal	857	4 399	1 366	31%
Note: The potential catch is calculated from A ´ 5.32, where A is the area in km², and 5.32 is the average yield in t/km² from major lakes.

Table 5. Small waterbodies

Waterbody

Area⁽¹⁾
(km²)

Fishery potential
(tonne/year)

Catch
(2001; tonne)

Offtake

Southern region (Cheleloka Swamp)

100

423 ⁽²⁾

Gambella (swamps and flood plains)

125

529 ⁽²⁾

132

25%

Small reservoirs and ponds

1 000 ⁽³⁾

150

15%

Subtotal

275

1 952

303

16%

Notes:
(1) Area for SWBs are rough estimates.
(2) Swamp potential catch is calculated from A ´ 4.23, where A is the area in km², and 4.23 is the average yield in t/km².
(3) Potential catch based on an average yield of 200 kg/ha (= 0.2 tonne/km²)

Sources: FAO, 1994. Small waterbodies and rivers in southern Africa, edited by B. Marchal & M. Maes.

Table 6. Major Rivers

River

Total length (km)

River length within Ethiopia (km)

Fishery potential
(tonne/year)

Catch
(2001; tonne)

Offtake

Abay

1 450

800

2 133

213

10%

Wabi Shebele

1 130

1 000

3 333

333

10%

Genale

858

480

768

10%

Awash

1 200

4 800

480

10%

Omo

760

1 925

481

25%

Tekeze

608

1 232

123

10%

Mereb

440

645

10%

Baro

277

256

10%

Angereb

220

161

10%

Subtotal

6 943

5 785

15 255

1 814

12%

Miscellaneous small rivers

1 400

6 533

1 307

20%

Total rivers

7 185

21 788

3 121

14%

Notes: Preliminary estimate using C=0.003L^1.98 (r=0.90), or C = L/300; where C is catch, and L is river length in km. Source for river length: Central Statistic Authority, 2001.

FISHERIES MANAGEMENT OBJECTIVES

The proposed fisheries legislation as an important legal framework for fisheries management in the country. It is intended to achieve the following interdependent objectives:

Curb prevailing overfishing and recover depleted stocks.
Ensure conservation of biodiversity and the aquatic environment.
Encourage effective technological advancement.
Ensure sustainable supply of good fish to the food economy.
Improve and secure employment and income for fishery communities.

The general fisheries management thinking and measures which are already contained in the draft fisheries legislation, and the specific management tools that follow for the enforcement of this legislation, are described below.

Management measures

On the basis of the fisheries legislation, steps are being taken to introduce fisheries management measures on a lake-by-lake basis. Though the degree varies from one fishery to another, the following general management measures are considered appropriate.

Conservation measures

Restriction of mobility of live fish. Any transfer of live fish is restricted without written authorization from the pertinent federal and regional institution.

Prohibition of destructive gear. Poisonous and explosive gear of any type are totally banned for fishing in Ethiopian waters.

Mesh regulation. Both twine and mesh size and net dimensions or other gear must be standardized to the needs and requirements of individual fish species. The beach seine net should be improved to minimize its destructive effect, or - where necessary - banned.

Area or seasonal closure. Any fishing gear or method which is believed to affect the breeding and recruitment of fish in a defined area and for a certain period is prohibited for the stated time.

Declaring a reserve in park or other area. Where a national park and a fishery share the same lake for different purposes, that portion of the lake claimed by the park is to be freed from fishing. This serves as a reserve area for the fishery, allowing the dynamics and status of the stock exploited by the commercial fishery itself to be compared with the same fish stocks when protected.

Limiting access. Access to fishing is to be limited by licensing effective fishing effort. Fishers will be licensed, and the licence should prescribe all the necessary conditions and requirements for fishing. In addition, fish traders will be required to be licensed and banned from acquiring fish from illegal fishing operations or handling fish which for some reason is banned from trade.

Allocation of catch. Where appropriate and manageable, catch quotas may be allocated to individual fisher groups or to individuals.

Territorial right. Fishing rights in small waterbodies will be given to organized fisher groups on the basis of a concession. For larger areas where a traditional division of territory has existed among different communities or tribes, then this will be revived and improved for further application.

Economic measures. Fiscal instruments such as taxes and fees are indirect means to limit entry. Increasing the tax on catch, increasing licence fees or reducing subsidies for gear for those fisheries or species that are close to or reaching full exploitation will be applied in order to reduce fishing pressure. For underutilized fish stocks, reverse measures will be taken.

Enforcement mechanism

At the outset, it has been clearly recognized that implementation of management measures is a challenge, given the limited financial and administrative capacities of the country. Despite the limitations, the administration of the management regime will pursue and implement the following enforcement measures.

Institutional arrangement

The institutional framework is that the Ministry of Agriculture is responsible for the overall regulatory and supervisory functions of the fisheries management system in the country. The regional states are responsible for the application of the management system according to their specific needs and conditions.

Research, monitoring and evaluation

Many of the fisheries in the country are lack adequate data on which to base management decisions. Some of the data problems requires applied research, while others imply monitoring and evaluation of the status of commercial fisheries and the impacts of the management measures. These activities are constrained by limited capacity - technical, financial and institutional. Despite this, existing capacities will be utilized in a better fashion.

Strengthening fisher associations

For effective fisheries management, local government and the fisher communities will enter into a social contract. This will, however, require strengthening and empowerment of fisher associations at different levels. The importance of participatory fisheries management is well recognized.

Cooperation to manage shared fisheries

There are a few lake and river fisheries that border two or more regional states within the country, or with another country, such as Kenya and Sudan. The fisheries legislation calls for effective cooperation for the management of shared fishery resources. Ethiopia shares 1.3 percent of lake Turkana with Kenya. Some Ethiopian rivers flow to Sudan.

ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE OF FISHERIES AUTHORITIES

Very recently, structural change has been taking place. The Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) now coordinates various agencies, including the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) and the Ethiopia Agricultural Research Organization (EARO). MoA is responsible for the development and management of fisheries and EARO undertakes research in response to fishery management and development needs.

The organigram of each government institution is shown below.

Organizational structure of the current fisheries administration at Federal level
	Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD)


Ministry of Agriculture (MoA)		Ethiopian Agricultural Research Organization (EARO)

Animal and Fisheries Resources Development and Regulatory Department		Livestock Research Directorate

Animal and Fisheries Resource Development Team (Fisheries staff)		National Fisheries and Other Living Aquatic Resources Research Centre

Organizational structure of the current fisheries administration at the Regional States level
	Regional Peoples Council

	Agricultural and Rural Development General Office (Regional State Level)


National Regional State Agricultural Research Organization		Bureau of Agriculture

Regional Fisheries Research and Training Centre		Animal and Fishery Resource Development Department


	(Animal and) Fisheries Development Team	Agricultural and Rural Development Coordination Office (District Level)

		Animal and Fisheries Development Desk (Fisheries staff)

Reflecting the federal government structure, the federal MoA and the regional Bureaus of Agriculture (BoAs) are directly responsible for the development and management of fisheries. MoA deals with policy and regulatory functions of a general kind; plays coordinatory and supervisory roles; facilitates cooperation and foreign assistance; and provides technical assistance to regional states and others. The regions are responsible for operational management of the fisheries in their territory. However, the federal and regional institutions lack effective structural linkage, so information exchange and reporting are indirect and thus not very effective.

In the area of research, the Sebeta Fish and Other Living Aquatic Resource Research Centre exists as a small unit within the EARO. At regional level, only two regions (Amhara and Oromya) have their own specialized fishery research and training units, despite other regions having huge fishery potentials. However, fishery research centres are unable to respond to research problems in the fishery sector as their technical and financial capacities are generally inadequate.

Organizational structures at regional level are not uniform. Commonly, where there is large fishery potential, the fishery is considered as part of a livestock and fishery unit within the BoA. Where the fish resource is small or poorly known, fishery is grossly marginalized.

The recent restructuring process further devolves powers to lower-level administrations. The implication for fishery is that decisions and actions on fisheries management will be taken by authorities that are closer to the fishery area and its problems.