The state of inland fisheries in Ethiopia: a synopsis with updated estimates of potential yield

This study reviews fisheries and management practices and provides estimates of the present and potential fish yield of Ethiopian inland fisheries. Published and unpublished sources were used, 28 years of fisheries data were analyzed and empirical models were applied to estimate potential yield. Ethiopian waters hold about 180 fish species, some freshwater shrimps and crabs, commercially important microalgae and a diverse vegetation, all together of great economic and socio-cultural values. Fisheries provide economic support directly and indirectly to about half a million people and serve as source of affordable protein for many households. Our estimate of potential yield (94,500 t yr−1 + 5.2% distributed as 73,100 t yr−1 + 3.3% for lentic and about 21,400 t yr−1 + 11.9% for lotic ecosystems) is far above the current yield levels, suggesting substantial scope for fisheries expansion. Nevertheless, some lakes already show signs of overfishing of target species, while others appear to have growing or stable fisheries. As yet, no ornamental fishery occurs in the country and the potential of indigenous fish species for ornamental fish trade needs to be evaluated. Management follows the traditional command and control approach and it seems that there is a general lack of awareness and scientific information on the fisheries. Major challenges of the fisheries are high post-harvest loss, lack of stringent sanitary and phytosanitary standards for assuring good quality products, and overfishing of valuable fish species in some lakes. Thus, continuous fisheries monitoring and yield assessment are urgently needed as is research directed toward unexploited water bodies and species.