Being well endowed with a number of water bodies such as rivers and lakes that can potentially provide Ethiopia with abundant seafood, the country is left with a long journey in terms of properly exploiting the aquatic bounties from the fishery sector. It has been common these days that fish play a key role in filling the nutritional requirements of human beings and the public expenses to improve productive capacity in aquatic food across the nation. A lot has been done for expanding fishery sector via supplying fishing boats, refrigerators, fish nets and other supplies for a similar purpose to quench such an alarming increase in due course of meeting fishery demand in Ethiopia.
Taking the huge significance of fishery into consideration, The Ethiopian Herald approached Waqgari Tessema, a Biologist graduated from Haramaya University and specialized in aqua-life to garner professional knowledge about the significance of seafood or fishery products for economic progress and food security.
He said, “It is really significantly useful to closely see why and how people fish for the purpose of boosting livelihood and guaranteeing welfare. Development in fish production would have great economic contribution to Ethiopia as fisheries provide employment, food and income. Fish provide fatty acids critical for brain development as well as protein and minerals.”
As to him, good fisheries’ governance can contribute to sustainable aquatic resource management and fish production potential of Ethiopia is immense enough. Lake Tana, Ashenge, Hayk, Koka, Ziway, Langano, Hawassa, Abaya and Chamo, among others, are among the potential fish rich lakes found in the country.
There is a major priority to maintain food security at the national and household levels for Ethiopia. Though ongoing efforts are being exerted to provide a more stable, sustainable and predictable food supply in Ethiopia, the ever increasing population growth in the nation has been contributing to chronic under-nutrition and food insecurity.
Aquatic animals in general do contain a high level of protein with good amino acid profile similar to that of the meat of land animals. The flesh of a fish is also readily digestible and immediately utilizable by the human body, which makes it suitable for complementing the high carbohydrate diets. Compared with land animals aquatic animals have a high percentage of edible flesh, and there is little wastage.
The fatty acid content of fish is highly polyunsaturated and particularly those which are attributed to reduce blood cholesterol. Aquatic animals are also source of minerals such as calcium, iron and phosphorus as well as trace elements and vitamins. There are also some indications that certain fatty acids in fish may provide protection against renal disease, he elucidated.
Yes, he said smallholder farmers and family farming dominate the agricultural system, and there are ongoing supplies of technology and inputs for various agricultural sectors such as crop production, livestock, apiculture and fishery which led to increased yield in the country.
To be more specific, fisheries are one of the important and renewable natural resource bases for many developing countries, and the livelihood of many rural communities relies on the fishery sector. Accordingly, fisheries are a key sector for reducing poverty and it could be considered as a potential strategy because it helps diversify household income directly and indirectly, he added.
Truly speaking, for Ethiopia fish could be one of the most important commodities in terms of ensuring food security and providing national income when exported if the nation capitalizes on the sector as per its many seafood sources, he added.
“However, lack of sufficient demand, hygiene and lack of cool chains to transport products to market has been compromising the development of the fishery sector in Ethiopia. Surprisingly, rivers and other water resources of Ethiopia are considered as huge potential sources of fish and employment opportunities and the nation is known as the water tower of Eastern Africa, which provides about 86 % of the Nile water. No doubt, the big fresh water artificial lakes like the ones which are going to be developed at beach of the Grand Abbay Dam will be reliable sources of fish production potential in the country,” he elaborated.
As to him, the dam will be creating fishing opportunities for cooperatives and households providing an alternative income source for member households and individual citizens.
He further stated that fish possess a great economic, nutritional, medicinal, industrial and aesthetic values as well as providing employment for millions of people in Ethiopia. They contribute to food security, providing a valuable supplement for diversified and nutritious diets.
Poor purchasing power of the citizens, the remoteness of fishing areas, poor human and institutional capacity, the lack of basic infrastructure and equipment, the degradation of natural resources and the limited funds to implement the country’s strategies, plans have had direct repercussion to the low level of production of the fishery sector.
Consumption of fish has several health, nutritional, environmental and social advantages over other terrestrial animal meat. Even when consumed in small quantities, fish often comprises a nutritionally important part of many people’s diets in developing countries. It is a vital source of protein and micro-nutrients, and improves the quality of protein in largely vegetable and starch-based diets by providing essential amino acids. Fish provides nutrients and micro-nutrients that are essential to cognitive and physical development, especially in children, and are an important part of a healthy diet.
Therefore, fisheries are regarded as an important sector in the effort to increase animal protein consumption and achieve food security for the growing population, he opined.
National fish demand is somewhat seasonal and large quantities of fish are consumed secured from major fish production areas such as the Great Rift Valley lakes, and major towns, particularly in Zeway, Arba Minch, Tana, among others. As far as employment opportunity is concerned, the fishery sector has grown more rapidly than both population rise and employment in agriculture. A considerable workforce is employed, both directly and indirectly, by fishery sectors which also help sustain livelihoods of local communities.
Fishery sector plays a significant role in the economic development of a country in terms of employment, income and provision of principal protein to the diet. The fishery sector in Ethiopia generates a variety of benefits, including nutrition and food security, livelihoods, employment, exports and foreign currency and conservation and biodiversity values that are of paramount significance. Fish and fishery products are valuable sources of protein and essential micro-nutrients for balanced nutrition and good health.
Farmed fish in Ethiopia is an integral nutrition, income earning and employment commodity for rural households, he added.
“Food security exists when all people, at all times, have physical, social and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life. As one growing demand for food is rising, the balance between demand and supply of consumer goods has to be made balanced by arranging alternative sources of food; hence, seafood and fishery is an activity practiced in different parts of the country to this end.”
Besides, fishing activities are practiced at different water bodies both by individual fisherman and cooperatives. However, as the activity is practiced using traditional means and did not aid by modernized technology due to various problems like poor implementation of policies and regulations, irresponsible fishing activities, poor coordination and management of the resources and stakeholders, and lack of fishing facilities and infrastructures.
Waqgari further said since most of the fishermen start fishing activities because of their failure in education, the sector is forced to be based on the traditional knowledge and skills. Since such a niggling aspect affects the marketing of fish in many ways including technology adoption or adaptation, production improvement and communication, fishery knowledge and experience needs to be well promoted to help the nation reap benefit it deserves out of the sector.
BY MENGESHA AMARE
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD TUESDAY 10 OCTOBER 2023
