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) |
21
|
5% |
Gambella (swamps
and flood plains) |
125
|
529
(2) |
132
|
25% |
Small
reservoirs and ponds |
50
|
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 |
77 |
10% |
Awash |
1
200 |
1 200 |
4 800 |
480 |
10% |
Omo |
760 |
760 |
1 925 |
481 |
25% |
Tekeze |
608 |
608 |
1 232 |
123 |
10% |
Mereb |
440 |
440 |
645 |
65 |
10% |
Baro |
277 |
277 |
256 |
26 |
10% |
Angereb |
220 |
220 |
161 |
16 |
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=0.003L1.98
(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) |
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Ministry
of Agriculture (MoA) |
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Ethiopian
Agricultural Research Organization (EARO) |
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Animal
and Fisheries Resources Development and Regulatory
Department |
|
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Livestock
Research Directorate |
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Animal
and Fisheries Resource Development Team (Fisheries
staff) |
|
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National
Fisheries and Other Living Aquatic Resources Research
Centre |
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Organizational
structure of the current fisheries administration
at the Regional States level |
|
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Regional
Peoples Council |
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Agricultural
and Rural Development General Office (Regional
State Level) |
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National
Regional State
Agricultural Research Organization |
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Bureau of
Agriculture |
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Regional
Fisheries Research and Training Centre |
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Animal and
Fishery Resource Development Department |
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(Animal and)
Fisheries Development Team |
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Agricultural
and Rural Development Coordination Office
(District
Level) |
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Animal
and Fisheries Development Desk
(Fisheries
staff) |
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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.
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