Assessment of fishery activities for enhanced management and improved fish production in Tekeze reservoir, Ethiopia

Abstract

This study presents an assessment of fishing practices in Tekeze reservoir between December, 2014 and March, 2015. Data on fish production potential and catch per unit effort were estimated by using different estimate models and through daily catch respectively. Assessment of fishing practices was done by using questionnaires. A total of 1016 specimens composed of juveniles and adults in Tekeze reservoir were identified and classified. They comprised of ten species belonging to three order and four families from Tekeze reservoir. In combined catch, the relative abundance of O. niloticus was 51.38% from Cichildae family, 24.11% Labeobarbus intermidius from cypriformes family and the least dominant in the catch composition was Hetrobarnchus longifilis from siluriformes family. The catch per unit effort (CPUE) for Tekeze reservoir was 8.27 kg/boat/day. In Tekeze reservoir there were 2291 legal fishermen from four districts of Amhara region and one district from Tigray region, 608 boats and two different types of fishing gears were identified. Gillnet was the most operated gear in the Tekeze reservoir followed by long lines. The fishing effort, CPUE and yields did not show any indication on the overexploitation of the resources. The dominant fish species by catch in Tekeze reservoir was O. niloticus. To avoid overexploitation of O. niloticus species in Tekeze reservoir, there is need to diversify fish catch by creating awareness among people for the exploitation and use of other fish species like Labeobarbus spp. The remoteness of the reservoir and luck of infrastructure affects the price of the fish. In addition to this the fish price was varied in species and fasting and no fasting seasons of the year.