EIAR

Aquaculture Commodity Research Strategy

(2016-2030)
Contents
List of tables..............................................................................................................................................ii
List of Annexes..........................................................................................................................................ii
List of abbreviations and acronyms.....................................................................................................iii
Acknowledgments....................................................................................................................................v
Forward.....................................................................................................................................................v
Executive summary................................................................................................................................v
1 Introduction.........................................................................................................................................1
1.1 Background..................................................................................................................................1

1.2 Rationale.......................................................................................................................................2

1.3 Vision.............................................................................................................................................3

1.4 Mission..........................................................................................................................................3

1.5 Goal...............................................................................................................................................3

1.6 Objective.......................................................................................................................................3

1.7 Guiding principles/value.............................................................................................................3

2 Importance of the Commodity............................................................................................................4

2.1 Aquaculture..................................................................................................................................4

2.2 Fish culture systems.....................................................................................................................5

2.3 Culture species.............................................................................................................................5

2.4 Potential and beneficiaries..........................................................................................................6

2.4.1 Food and Nutrition...............................................................................................................7

2.4.2 Nutritional content..............................................................................................................8

2.4.3 Health and nutritional security............................................................................................8

2.5 Economy........................................................................................................................................9

2.6 Environmental sustainability....................................................................................................10

i
3 Situation analysis...............................................................................................................................11
3.1 External environment (PEST+)................................................................................................11

Policy dimension..........................................................................................................................11

. Economic dimension.................................................................................................................12

Socio-cultural dimension............................................................................................................12

Technological dimension............................................................................................................13

Environmental dimension...........................................................................................................13

3.2 Internal environment.................................................................................................................13

3.3 SWOC analysis...........................................................................................................................15

3.4 Stakeholder analysis..................................................................................................................19

3.5 Benchmarking............................................................................................................................21

4 Strategic Issues and interventions.....................................................................................................23

5 Next Steps: Developing complementary documents for the Strategy...............................................29
6 Reference..........................................................................................................................................30
7 Annexes.............................................................................................................................................32

List of tables

Table 1Internal and external situation analysis on aquaculture commodity.............................................19

Table 2 Stakeholders analysis....................................................................................................................24
Table 3 Major thematic areas and their corresponding strategic issues and intervention on aquaculture
..................................................................................................................................................................27

List of Annexes

Annex 1 Some stocked water bodies.................................................................................................36

Annex 2 Candidate aquaculture species....................................................................................................37

ii
List of abbreviations and acronyms

ADLI Agricultural Development Lead Industralization

ATA Agricultural and Transformation Agency

BoA Bureau of Agriculture

BFALRC Bahir Dar Fishery and Aquatic Life Research Center

CGIAR Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research

CSA Central Statistical Agency

EIA Ethiopian Investment Agency

EIAR Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research

ERCA Ethiopian Revenues and Customs Authority

ESA Ethiopian Standards Agency

ESAP Ethiopian Society of Animal Production

ETB Ethiopian Birr

EU European Union

FAO Food and Agricultural Organization

FAOSTAT Food and Agriculture Organization Statistics

FRDMP Fishery Resources Development and Marketing Plan

FPME Fish Production and Marketing Enterprise

GDP Gross Domestic Products

GIS Geographic Information System

GPCC Global Precipitation Climatology Centre

GTP Growth and Transformation Plan

HLI Higher Learning Institute

iii
IBC Institute for Biodiversity Conservation

ICT Information Communication Technology

MDG Millennium Development Goal

MT Metric Ton

MoA Ministry of Agriculture

MoLF Ministry of Livestock and Fishery

MoWEI Ministry of Water, Energy and Irrigation

MoFED Ministry of Finance and Economic Development

MoST Ministry of Science and Technology

MSY Maximum Sustainable Yield

NADS National Aquaculture Development Strategy

NFALRC National Fishery and other Aquatic Life Research Center

NGO Non Governmental Organization

PRSP Poverty Reduction Strategy Program

PASDEP Program for Accelerated and Sustainable Development to

End Poverty

PEST+ Political Economical Socio-cultural Technological and

Environmental

RARI Regional Agricultural Research Institute

SNNPR Southern Nation Nationalities and People Region

ZFRC Ziway Fishery Research Center

iv
Acknowledgments

Forward

Executive summary
Aquaculture development shows continuous growth both globally and in the content.
On the other hand aquaculture in Ethiopia remains a promising potential than an actual
practice despite the country’s physical, environmental and socio-economic conditions.
Presence of diverse agro-ecologies, water resources and availability of basic
aquaculture inputs such as candidate aquaculture fish species and fish feed ingredients
(agricultural and agro-industrial by-products) is the much needed and critical issues for
the development of aquaculture in the country. Recent attempts by the research
systems enabled to introduce small scale fish farming to farmers who have water
access. The current practice is with low input and less and/or no routine management
which needs strategic intervention and availing research outputs (information,
technologies and best practices).

Although the recognition of the commodity into the research system is a recent
phenomenon, aquaculture research has generated information and technologies which
serves to kickoff its development. Some of the research achievements and out puts
include fish feeds from locally available feed resources, artificial & semi artificial
hatching techniques of candidate aquaculture species (Tilapia, African catfish and
Common carp), growth performance of tilapia, information on potential manmade water
bodies and the performance of candidate culture fish species in different culture
systems such as mono-sex Tilapia culture, cage culture, poly culture and Integrated
Aquaculture and Agriculture. However to utilize the country’s resources and potential for
aquaculture development, the research system has to develop clear strategies of the
commodity.

With thorough internal and external environment assessment, seven research thematic
areas, one general and three cross cutting themes have been identified. Capacity
building issues (skilled human power and research infrastructure) are indicated in the

v
general them. The seven research themes are categorized as: Fish breeding, genetics
and biotechnology, Culture system management, Fish feed and nutrition, Algal culture,
Enhancement of man-made water bodies, Aquaculture fish health and disease and
Socio economics and extension. In addition to these, GIS, biometry and ICT, climate
change and gender are also identified as a cross cutting issues. The team believes that
addressing research issues and development needs in those thematic areas will foster
the development of aquaculture and enable the commodity to contribute to the overall
development goals of the institute and the country at large.

vi
1 Introduction
1.1 Background

Agriculture is the backbone of the Ethiopian economy and still continues to be one of
the main economic development drivers. It contributes the lion's share in terms of
output, income, employment and raw materials. In this case, Ethiopia has developed
and adopted its long-term development strategy called Agricultural Development-Led
Industrialization (ADLI) which focuses on the development of the rural sector and firmly
asserts that enhancing productivity of the smallholder agriculture lays the foundation for
industrialization which in turn will base itself on utilization of domestic raw materials and
adoption of labour-intensive technologies to achieving food security, economic growth
and overall development. In this strategy, agriculture has been given the priority and
expected to serve as an engine of growth for the economy. Several national
development plans such as Poverty Reduction Strategy Program (PRSP-1995-1999),
Sustainable Development and Poverty Reduction Program (SDPRP-2000-2004)
provided the basis for the Plan for Accelerated and Sustainable Development to End
Poverty (PASDEP 2005 – 2010), which also adopted the goals and targets laid out in
the Millennium Development Goals (MDG). Based on the lessons learned and the
country’s long-term vision to become a middle income country by 2025, the Growth and
Transformation Plan-GTP I (2010-2015) and the current GTP-II (2016-2020) have been
adopted and implemented and under implementation. All those development plans
focus on the commercialization of smallholder agriculture through specialization in
agricultural commodities that have high demand in local and export markets. However,
these developmental plans did not provide a specific framework for the sustainable
development of aquaculture (being one of the commodities that could contribute to
income, employment and nutrition and food security) in the country. They were not

Draft Strategy Document for Aquaculture Commodity Research (2016-2030) Page 1

comprehensive and did not provide guidance to the development of aquaculture, neither
at national nor at regional level.

1.2 Rationale
According to the latest available statistics collected globally by FAO, world aquaculture
production showed continued growth which attained another all-time high of 90.4 million
tonnes (live weight equivalent) in 2012 (US$144.4 billion). In addition, some countries
also reported collectively the production of 22 400 tonnes of non-food products
(US$222.4 million) for ornamental uses. According to the latest FAO estimates, world
food fish aquaculture production rose by 5.8 percent to 70.5 million tonnes in 2013.
Between 1980 and 2012, world aquaculture production volume increased at an average
rate of 8.6 percent per year.

Although African contribution to the total aquaculture production is only 2.2%, a few
countries like Egypt surpassed 1 million tonnes (1, 017, 738 tonnes ) of annual
aquaculture production (FAO, 2014). Presence of diverse agro-ecological zones, water
sources (surface and ground), candidate culture fish species (cold and warm water) and
available fish feed ingredients (agricultural and agro-industrial by-products) in Ethiopia
and global experience revealed the possibility to develop various aquaculture
production schemes. However, the commodity has not been developed because of lack
of recognition as a priority commodity, lack of trained human power and infrastructure.
The recent emphasis by the government to the commodity at national and regional
levels needs clear research directions and strategies so that the country’s huge
potential can be unlocked which ultimately will contribute to the overall development
process.

Aquaculture commodity research, as an integral part of EIAR, is committed to contribute

to the overall objectives of the institute in the areas of ensuring national food and
nutrition security, import substitution and foreign currency earnings and creating job
opportunities. Emphasis and special effort is given for developing small scale
aquaculture practices at a wider scale to massively bring an impact mainly on the
nutrition security of smallholder farmers who are lacking by and large.

Draft Strategy Document for Aquaculture Commodity Research (2016-2030) Page 2

To achieve the commodity’s objectives in particular and to contribute to that of EIAR,
Aquaculture commodity research needs a well-defined research strategy and robust
implementation action plan in order to focus its efforts and achieve fast-track desired
results. The strategy document is expected identify key strategic research issues and
interventions to be implemented in the next 15-years period (2016-2030).

1.3 Vision

To be a leading center of excellence in aquaculture research and training in East Africa

which provides improved culture technologies and knowledge that contributes to
sustainable fish and other aquatic organisms’ production for improved livelihoods

1.4 Mission

To conduct and coordinate aquaculture research in the country to avail improved

technologies and knowledge which increase production and productivity

1.5 Goal
To contribute to the EIAR’s role towards the achievement of the sectoral objectives:
ensuring food and nutrition security, supply of raw materials, import substitution,
increase export earnings and ensuring environmental sustainability

1.6 Objective
To generate, develop and adapt aquaculture technologies and knowledge that will
increase production and productivity

1.7 Guiding principles/value

In order to accomplish its mission and achieve its goal, aquaculture commodity will have
the following guiding principles:

 Promote multi-disciplinary, multi-institutional, livelihood-based approaches with

various partners and stakeholders on the basis of comparative advantages
 Strategic research approach that enables climate change resilient,
environmentally/ecology friendly aquaculture development

Draft Strategy Document for Aquaculture Commodity Research (2016-2030) Page 3

 Ensure monitoring mechanisms and evaluation criteria from inception of its projects
and activities
 Adapt to the existing operational environment such as, institutional, national and
global situation
 Give due attention to inclusiveness in terms of diversity and equal opportunity for all
(merit-based), must use gender-sensitive approaches to empower women
 Establish strong linkage with research partners and the fish farming
 Engrain high commitment to excellence, knowledge sharing and access to data and
information
 Commitment to quality of national research projects
 Have positive attitudes and perception towards researchers and supporting staff
 Be free from all forms of malpractices, ensure transparency, accountability and
devotion to research ethical standards at all levels

2 Importance of the Commodity

2.1 Aquaculture

Aquaculture, the farming of aquatic organisms, including fish, mollusks, crustaceans and aquatic
plants, is a major means of global meat production. For example, farmed fish ranked 4th in
terms of global meat production after pig, poultry and beef & buffalo (FAOSTAT, 2011). Despite
aquaculture's importance and potentials, in terms of poverty alleviation, food and nutrition
security, job opportunity, source of income, reducing fishing pressure on capture fishery, its
contribution to the national GDP is not significant. However the culture based capture fishery
contributed towards improvement of the local community's livelihood the in terms of food
and nutrition security and means of income. Some good examples of culture based capture
fishery include the fish production from Fincha, Koka, Melekawakena, Tendaho and Gilgel-gibe
I reservoirs, and small communal large ponds such as Birati and Tolay In recent years integrated
aquaculture agriculture system (IAA) got attention and the system is proved as economical and
effective at the farmers level (NFALRC, 2015). The recognition of aquaculture in the agricultural

Draft Strategy Document for Aquaculture Commodity Research (2016-2030) Page 4

development strategy of the country will give a chance for the sectors to develop and
contribute to the national economy.

2.2 Fish culture systems

Attempts of fish culture in Ethiopia started in the 1970s by introduction of some exotic
fish species for food production such as carps (Cyprinus carpio-common carp,
Ctenophryngodon idella -Grass carp, Hypopthalmichthys molitrix -Silver carp;Tilapias -
Tilapia zilli and salmons -Salmo trutta –brown trout, Salmo gairdneri -rainbow trout.
Together with the exotic fish species, culturing of some indigenous fish species mainly
Oreochromis niloticus –Nile tilapia is being practiced since long times. The main fish
culturing practice is pond culture with extensive and semi-intensive type of
management. Most of manmade water bodies and some lakes in Ethiopia were
stocked with fish fingerlings rearing ponds of National Fishery and Aquatic Life
Research Center, the then Sebeta Fish Culture Station a pioneer fish culture station.
Culture based capture fishery is the type of fish farming practice exercised in most
manmade water bodies, mainly large reservoirs. Recently some aquaculture
technologies like mono-sex, poly- culture, cage culture and Integrated Aquaculture-
Agriculture are under popularization by research centers and universities both on-
station and on-farm.

2.3 Culture species

Ethiopian water bodies harbor diverse fish fauna (indigenous, endemic and exotic fish species).
So far above 200 fish species, represented in 12 orders, 29 families and 70 genera of which 40
fish species are endemic and 10 exotic, have been reported from different water bodies (Shibru
& Fisseha, 1980; Golubstov & Mina, 2003; Redeat, 2012). Presence of candidate aquaculture
fish species such as Nile tilapia, African catfish, Common carp and Trout species is a big
milestone for the development of aquaculture in the country. Well established Trout species in
Bale highland rivers, a cold water fish species, gives an opportunity to utilize highland water

Draft Strategy Document for Aquaculture Commodity Research (2016-2030) Page 5

bodies for the development of aquaculture. Ornamental fish species such as Carassius auratus
–Goldfish and other potential indigenous candidates are additional potential to develop
commercial aquaculture. In addition to finfish, presence of shellfish (crustaceans, mollusks) in
the water bodies in Ethiopia and the country’s diverse freshwater ecoregion are in favor of
developing shellfish aquaculture.

It is obvious that for the success of aquaculture, quality fish seed and feed are the critical ones.
Fish fries have to get live foods in their early development stages which are critical for their
survival and later stage development. The diverse planktonic organisms, macro-invertebrates
and aquatic plants (live and/or processed) can be used as starter fish foods and is an option for
aquaculturists. A microalgae of great economic potential with high nutritional benefits to
humans like Spirulina, which is renamed as Arthrospira, is another un-exploited aquatic
resource in the country. The presence of Spirulina in great abundance was reported in
previous studies conducted in major river systems (Harrison and Hynes, 1989; Cumberlidge,
2009) and in Rift Valley lakes Aranguade, Chitu and Kilotes (Kebede and Ahlgren, 1996) . There
are technologies that can be used through adaptation for mass production in the indoor and
outdoor facilities for human and animal uses Apart from the direct use of algae for human and
animal uses, some algal species like Botryococcous have the potential for bio-fuel if mass
production and management techniques are employed.

2.4 Potential and beneficiaries

Ethiopia having diverse agro-ecological zones with wide temperature ranges, ranging
from as low as 180 m below sea level in the Danakil area to mountain slopes of over
4000 m above sea level in the highlands, is ideal to develop aquaculture. Temperature
is very important in aquaculture. With such altitude range variation in temperature is
imminent and aquaculturists will have different options to culture both cold and warm
water culture species.

Ethiopia is endowed with several water sources both surface and ground. Lakes
ranging from a few square meter to 3150 km2 , reservoirs of different sizes and several

Draft Strategy Document for Aquaculture Commodity Research (2016-2030) Page 6

rivers (including trans-boundary) are potential resources for the development of
aquaculture. A recent study by Gashaw Tesfaye and Wolf (2014) revealed that
Ethiopian water bodies are estimated to be about 13600 km 2 of lakes and reservoirs
and 8065 km long rivers. An increasing numbers of manmade water bodies such as
small micro dams in most regions as well as big dams and reservoirs like Fincha, Koka,
Koga, Gilgel Gibe 1& 3 and the upcoming Ethiopian Great Renaissance Dam with an
area of 1860 km2 (which will have twice the volume of Lake Tana) can serve as a dual
purpose water bodies for hydropower generation as well as fish production. The fishery
production can be either culture base capture fishery and or by deploying different
aquaculture technologies in the reservoirs (example cage culture). Considering a
combination of factors (water availability, topography and soil texture, land use/cover,
temperature regime, and economic parameters) Eshete Dejen and Zemnu Mintesnot
(2012) calculated that 15,158 km2 highly suitable and 871, 731 km2 moderately suitable
for Tilapia culture development in Ethiopia.

The applications of aquaculture for production of protein rich human food benefiting the
whole society at low and reasonable cost, conservation and restoration of biodiversity,
stock enhancement of water bodies, sport, bait and ornamental fish production and for
animal feed justify the potential of aquaculture to be one of the commodities for future
food production worldwide. Apart from direct involvement of actors in aquaculture
business, the commodity requires inputs like fish feeds and fish seeds which are
opportunities for others to be engage. Several beneficiaries will also be benefited along
the value chain. Moreover in developing countries, where there is food and nutrition
insecurity, aquaculture can be the way out particularly for several farmers whose diet
usually lacks protein.

2.4.1 Food and Nutrition

In Ethiopia, despite its economic importance and huge untapped potential, the fishery
sector remains less developed in many cases. The role of aquaculture in reducing
poverty and alleviating food and nutrition insecurity at household level is enormous.
Most of the Ethiopian diets are dominated by carbohydrates derived from cereals, which

Draft Strategy Document for Aquaculture Commodity Research (2016-2030) Page 7

have low protein and thus, eating fish along with cereals can certainly eliminate the
protein deficiency diseases that presently affecting many people. Apparently, the
socioeconomic importance of aquaculture in reducing malnutrition by supplying high
quality fish protein and generating cash income for the rural communities are recently
well recognized and attempts are being made to promote and develop the subsector
both at farmers and commercial levels

2.4.2 Nutritional content

Fish and fish products are very important source of protein and fat (poly unsaturated
fatty acids) which has a very high degree of digestibility and wide variety of water and
fat soluble vitamins including vitamins A, c and D. It contains also essential minerals
such as calcium phosphorus, magnesium, selenium and iodine. There are nine amino
acids which the body cannot manufacture; we must get them from food. They are called
essential amino acids. Fish contains all nine essential amino acids; therefore, it is an
excellent choice for meeting our daily protein needs. An added advantage of fish is that
its protein is highly digestible. Fish is also a source of essential fatty acid Omega-3,
docosahexaenoic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid. The protein in fish food is more
readily broken down and absorbed than the protein in red meats and poultry. This
advantage makes fish an excellent food choice for people of all ages. Fish meat of 110
gram contains 110 - 140 calories, 20 -25 g ram proteins and 2-5 g fat.

2.4.3 Health and nutritional security

Fish oils are composed of fatty acids which consist of a chain of carbon atoms with a
carboxyl group at one end and a methyl group (CH 3) at the other. These
polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in fish are unique and composed primarily of the
omega-3 fatty acids. They differ from most plant oils which contains mainly the omega-6
fatty acids. Fish and shellfish ingest and accumulate omega-3 fatty acids through the
food chain from algae and phytoplankton, the primary producers of omega-3 fatty acids.
Man can only produce saturated and omega-9 fatty acids, which means we have to get
the omega-3 fatty acids we need through our daily foods which is fish. After several

Draft Strategy Document for Aquaculture Commodity Research (2016-2030) Page 8

medical studies, it now appears that the omega-3 fatty acids help keep our bodies from
over-producing eicosanoids, a group of hormone-like substances that can, in large
amounts, contribute to arthritis, asthma, heart disease, stroke, and related disorders.
The eicosanoids are normally derived from the omega-6 PUFA arachidonate, found
predominantly in plant oil. Omega-3 fatty acids act as an antagonist to eicosanoid
synthesis, thereby lowering their production. The high content of PUFA in fish also
lowers serum cholesterol levels that deposit cholesterol along the artery walls. Other
health problems that may can be controlled or alleviated by the consumption of omega-
3 fatty acids from fish are asthma, arthritis, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, hypertension,
migraine headaches, cancer, and some kidney diseases. Recent studies suggest that
by eating more oily fish older people can boost their brain power, remember better and
think faster than those who don't consume at all. Incorporate fish to the diet of children
with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder can reduce their behavioral problem and
improves brain function and structure, among other things. The nutrients and minerals
in fish can make improvements in brain development and reproduction. All this facts
decorated the role of fish in the functionality of the human body.

2.5 Economy

A national data on various aspects of aquaculture including total production is yet not
available. In 2014 the total fish production in Ethiopia from lakes, rivers and reservoirs
was estimated to be 38,370 tones (MoA, 2014). Lakes contributed 32,164 tons (84%),
reservoirs and rivers 6,145 tons (16%) and rural fish farms 41 tons to the total. Although
Ethiopia is termed as “the water tower of North-East Africa” and endowed with
enormous fishery and aquaculture resources for the development, the per capita
consumption is estimated as little as 0.3 kg/cap/year, much lower than the average per
capita consumption of Africa ( 9.1 kg/year) and 18.4 kg/year of the world (FAO, 2014).
Breuil (1995) reported the estimated per capita consumption of fish at 0.9 kg/year in
Addis Ababa. In the production areas (Arba Minch and Sodo areas, as well as Hawasa),
local per capita consumption of fish was estimated at 8.5 kg/year and in the Gambella
close to Baro River at 10 kg/year (Breuil, 1995). The major reason for low national fish
consumption rests on limited availability and irregular supply of fish. Despite this, taking

Draft Strategy Document for Aquaculture Commodity Research (2016-2030) Page 9

only the population factor in to account, the present annual national per capita demand
for fish is estimated to over 90,000 tons. The gap (52,000 tons/annum) can be filled by
alternative supply sources, such as development of fish farming or aquaculture. In order
to meet the demand for fish the country imported 337 and 421 tons of fish products in
2009 and 2010 respectively. The export trend of fish from Ethiopia has a sort of some
irregularities on its volume due to unsustainable supply and production. Regardless of
the irregularities according to the data of 14 years obtained from MOA, the fish export
sharply increased from 8 tons in 1997 to 849.5 tons in 2010 which is in favor of the
highly growing demand of world fish market (MoA, 2010). This indicates investment in
aquaculture is a viable business opportunities for private investors.

2.6 Environmental sustainability

Aquaculture can serve for aquatic biodiversity conservation where endangered culture
species can be cultivated and restocked into the water bodies. It is also the source of
fish fingerlings to stock over exploited water bodies in stock enhancement programs.
The possibility of integrating aquaculture with other agricultural activities is also an
added advantage in optimizing the resources (land and water) in a sustainable way.
Apart integration, aquaculture utilizes waste lands such as marshy and degraded lands
which are not suitable for other agricultural activities and increases production and
productivity of the resource (land in this case) and avail habitat for other aquatic
organisms.

Despite wider applications of aquaculture, its development has however generated

debate over the social and Environmental costs and benefits especially as a massive
threat to freshwater and marine environments. Major environmental impacts of
aquaculture have been associated mainly with high-input high-output intensive systems
the effects of which included discharge of suspended solids, nutrients, organic
enrichment of recipient waters resulting in build-up of anoxic sediments, eutrophication
of lakes, changes in benthic communities etc. Cultured species will eventually enter the
natural ecosystem (either through purposeful release or accidental escape). Thus, non-

Draft Strategy Document for Aquaculture Commodity Research (2016-2030) Page 10

native species in culture can adversely impact local resources through hybridization and
loss of native stocks, predation and competition, transmission of disease, and changes
in habitat.

However, it’s also possible to develop environmental friendly aquaculture where the
recourses can be reused using recirculation (water) and wastes as an input for other
agricultural activities. Moreover, most of the intensive aquaculture production systems
are under full control of the aquaculturists and the possibility of reducing and/or
controlling wastes from aquaculture farms can sustain the environment.

3 Situation analysis
3.1 External environment (PEST+)

Aquaculture is complementing the globally ever growing demand for fish products in the
face of stagnated capture fishery production. Fish from aquaculture is an important
protein source and means of employment in many African countries. In Ethiopia,
aquaculture has long been a neglected agribusiness until a recent consideration as one
of high priority commodities for nutrition security. Culture-based capture fishery is the
only form of aquaculture so far in the country contributing to up to 15% of the nation’s
fish production (Yared et al, 2010). While the country is recording a staggering
economic growth, corresponding rise in income and subsequent demand for noble
protein sources like fish. Such quick surge for fish demand will likely to challenge the
current supply.

Policy dimension

The country has brought in mega development plan, the Growth and Transformation
Plan-two (GTP-II) that has an element of ensuring nutrition security in addition to food

Draft Strategy Document for Aquaculture Commodity Research (2016-2030) Page 11

security through boosting production and productivity. For this, fishery, aquaculture and
livestock sectors have been elevated to a state ministerial level. However, institutional
arrangement and support system to promote aquaculture development and research did
not cascade to the lower units. Furthermore, existing policies related to land and water
resources are likely to govern the prospect of aquaculture expansion since aquaculture
investments are long-term in nature. Exclusion of aquaculture and fishery in the
livestock development master plan is a drawback in terms of attracting both
international and nation supports frameworks. The research system’s effort is severely
undermined, among others, by the existing generic purchasing and import regulation
which indiscriminately hinders purchase and acquisition of quality scientific equipments,
inputs, supplies and logistics. In addition to affection the quality of technology generated
and man power trained, it further discourages scientists from actively engaging in
innovative research.

. Economic dimension

As for many agricultural commodities, there exists little public-private-partnership in

research and development. In spite of lucrative investment incentive packages, there
are few private actors in aquaculture development to date. Unless these issues are
addressed, the prospect of existing research and extension to ignite aquaculture
development will be remarkably affected. On the development side, lack of cross-
sectoral integration makes it difficult to efficiently exploit resources bases such as water
and land. Consequently, much resource is wasted or detorariated due to malpractices.
Aquaculture agribusiness may suffer opportunity cost and competition for inputs such as
feed from other livestock sector. On the other hand, such opportunity cost can be
reduced by using marginal resources which are not profitable for other commodities.

Socio-cultural dimension

Vast majority of Ethiopians prefer to obtain protein from other livestock while
communities residing near major lakes and rivers have developed long tradition of

Draft Strategy Document for Aquaculture Commodity Research (2016-2030) Page 12

consuming fish. Nevertheless, there are mounting evidences in which improvement in
literacy; increased awareness and globalization are leading to rapid socio-cultural
changes leading to increased fish consumers.

Technological dimension

It is believed that Ethiopia has great potential for aquaculture with production belts
especially for Nile tilapia ranging from mid to low altitude regions. There are indigenous
and exotic culture fish species distributed in diverse fish bio-regions while it is also
endowed with ample water resource and suitable land. However, harnessing such
potential requires generation and adaptation of appropriate technologies for different
bio-region and production systems. In this regard; the effort made so far by research
and higher learning institution’s to avail competent aquaculture technology through
quality scientific research is being undermined by several obstacles. Absence of trained
graduates in fisheries and aquaculture is a bottleneck to provide competent extension
service at farmer’s level. Post-graduate programs lack adequate practical training.

Environmental dimension

Even if some aquaculture practices are considered as environmental threats elsewhere

in the world, yet there are production technologies and practices that could be
developed so as to have little negative impact on the ecosystem. In fact, culture
technologies and practices exist which benefit the environment via effective use of
water and waste water through multiple integration of other commodities. Several
studies also indicated that aquaculture is one of the sectors that are potentially
vulnerable to impacts of climate change.

3.2 Internal environment

Aquaculture has just recently been considered as a commodity research in the EIAR
system. Despite a positive progress in research, and to some extent, technology
transfer in the past decade, shortage of professionals adequately trained in aquaculture

Draft Strategy Document for Aquaculture Commodity Research (2016-2030) Page 13

is challenging quality and quantity of research outputs. Aquaculture has long been a
loss priority commodity in the research system itself. Thus, inadequate financing,
shortage of logistics, research facilities have limited the scope of research and its
impact. Lack of inter and intra disciplinary cooperation is characteristics of the research
system which has led to inefficiencies in terms of resource and other opportunities.
Multiple institutions in the federal-regional levels and higher learning institutions practice
less synergies leading to lack of responsibility, redundancy of effort and wastage of
resource. Despite such shortcomings, some research centers have moved forward in
terms of creating national and international linkage in which efforts to train a few
researchers in core disciplines have been made. A remarkable research culture is
gaining momentum which calls for massive support if it is to meet its ultimate goal. The
overall internal operational situations in terms of human, physical and financial
resources, research culture, synergies among stakeholders and institutional
arrangements have been summarized in the SWOC analysis.

Draft Strategy Document for Aquaculture Commodity Research (2016-2030) Page 14

3.3 SWOC analysis

Table 1Internal and external situation analysis on aquaculture commodity

Research theme Internal External

Strength Weakness Opportunities Challenges
General  Recent recognition of  Lack of adequate  Recognition of the sub-  Inadequate structural
aquaculture commodity research facilities and sector at ministerial setup and support for
in the research system inputs level aquaculture research
 Limited support in  Recognition of
research facility and aquaculture as one of
capacity building priority commodities
 Availability of core  Lack of sufficient  Availability of HLI’s in  Graduate with poor
research team number of staff in the field of fisheries practical knowledge
representing some of each discipline and aquatic science
the disciplines at  High staff turnover  Availability of National  Poor implementation
coordination center  Lack of skilled and Aquaculture of aquaculture
competent support development strategy development strategy
staff in sufficient
number
 The culture of research  Limited effort in  Establishment of  Lengthy and tedious
collaborations at soliciting international professional society in custom procedures for
national and support the field imported research
international levels inputs and supplies
 Lack of research
inputs supplies locally
Fish breeding,  Initiation of researches  Absence of trained  Presence of indigenous  Climate change
genetics and on strain improvement researchers in fish and exotic culture fish impact
biotechnology through selection from breeding and species  Unintentional
indigenous culture genetics  Global experience in introduction of exotic

Draft Strategy Document for Aquaculture Commodity Research (2016-2030) Page 15

 species  Lack of improved aquaculture research fish species
strain and development 
 Limitation in the  Different fish
application of populations and eco-
biotechnology tools regions
 Launching of
biotechnology research
and dedicated research
center
 Some success stories  Lack of adequate  High demand for fish  Lack of quality fish
on seed multiplication hatchery facilities in fingerling/seed seed suppliers
techniques of culture the country
species
Culture system  Existence of  Lack of full package  High demand for fish  Lack of local supply
management preliminary scientific culture technologies  Availability of multi-use for input material
study and experience water facilities for
on different culture different culture
systems systems

Fish feed and  Availability of  Limited study on live  Availability of a variety  Competing demand
nutrition preliminary scientific larval fish feed of agricultural and agro- for feed ingredients
results on feed trials  Lack of techniques for industrial byproducts from other livestock
with agro-industrial feed extrusion  Availability of sectors
byproducts and dry techniques 
commercial animal feed Inefficient procedures
feed formulation  Lack of high quality processors for foreign purchase of
thereof formulated fish feed  Availability of software micro nutrients,
 Laboratory capacity for for intensive farming tools for feed laboratory chemicals ,
nutrition studies formulation etc
 Some studies on  Absence of
plankton-based live commercial fish feed
feed processors

Algal culture  Some knowledge on  Lack of any scientific  Growing domain of  Lack of awareness on

Draft Strategy Document for Aquaculture Commodity Research (2016-2030) Page 16

 major planktonic algal study on algal-culture scientific knowledge the economic
groups for food, feed and bio- globally importance of algae
 Presence of mini fuel  High economic value
laboratory for isolation  Lack of basic and demand for certain
and laboratory scale laboratory protocols cultured algal species
production for algal species (e.g. Spirulina:
isolation and pure Arthrospira sp.)
culture development
 Lack of adequate
facility for mass
culture

Aquaculture fish  Some information on  Inadequate trained  Presence of national  Lack of specialized
health and disease fish parasites and researcher in the animal health training program in
prevalence in culture discipline laboratories (NAHDIC, fish disease
system  Lack of adequate NVI)
 Presence of mini laboratory facility for
laboratory for bacterial fish pathogens
and fungal isolation  Absence of studies on
zoonotic fish diseases
and parasites
 Lack of study on
diseases of fish
embryo, larval and fry
stages
Enhancement of  Presence of baseline  Inadequate  Increasing awareness  Absence of
man-made water information information on the on man-made water stakeholder
bodies  Presence of success adaptability status of bodies for multiple use participation during
stories on enhanced stocked fish and including fish farming planning, designing
water bodies for impact on community  Increasing number of and construction of
aquaculture livelihood man-made water water reservoirs
  Lack of adequate reservoirs and dams  Lack of commercial
fingerling transport  fish fingerling

Draft Strategy Document for Aquaculture Commodity Research (2016-2030) Page 17


Socio economics  Baseline information
and on socio-economic
extension importance of small-
scale aquaculture and
culture-based capture
fishery
  Recent introduction of
backyard pond
aquaculture
logistic suppliers and central
hatcheries
 Lack of awareness on  Increasing market  Weak involvement of
fish farming price, demand for fish the private sector in
 Weak research- and purchasing power aquaculture
extension linkage,  Improving investment
weak extension consumption habit
services
 Poor fish consumption
habit


Cross-cutting themes
 GIS, biometry and  GIS and ICT being  Limited acquisition of  Availability and  Poor ICT
ICT mainstreamed in the technologies and accessibility of infrastructure in the
research system application technologies world-wide country
 Availability of GIS  No effort to document (software & hardware)
based map for spatio-temporal data
potential tilapia of water bodies
production belts  Lack of skilled human
resource

 Gender  Mainstreamed in the  Lack of gender  Supporting policy  Shortage of

research system disaggregated frameworks in place competent female
technology researchers
 Climate change  Increased awareness  Limited information  National and global  Diminishing source
on climate change on impact of climate recognition of climate of water for
trend change on change aquaculture
 aquaculture development
 Vulnerability to
climate change

Draft Strategy Document for Aquaculture Commodity Research (2016-2030) Page 18

3.4 Stakeholder analysis

During the development of this strategy, the stakeholders listed in Table///, have been consulted and are expected to be
part of its implementation at different levels. A list of such stakeholders with different roles and demands were examined
as these stakeholders play a crucially important role for successful designing and implementation of the strategy and the
outputs and impacts thereof. Therefore, assessments were made what opportunities the research team could make use
of and, by the same token, what challenges it should face up to coming from these stakeholders by merely being involved
in providing services of agricultural extension, production, processing, trading and research. These stakeholders were
grouped as clients, users, exporters, partners and competitors and the opportunities and challenges coming from them
were analyzed and captured.

Table 2 Stakeholders analysis

Stakeholders Roles
Regional Agricultural Research Institutions Technology and information
(RARI’s)
Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR) Technology and information
Ministry of Livestock & Fisheries (MoLF) Extension and scaling up, establishing cooperatives,
land use, natural resource management, marketing

Draft Strategy Document for Aquaculture Commodity Research (2016-2030) Page 19

 Ministry of Agriculture and natural land use, natural resource management, marketing
Resources
Ministry of Forest and Environment (MoFE) Protection of aquatic resources
Agro-processors Commercial fish feed supply
Farmers and agro-pastoralists Producers,end users and technology adaptation and adoption

Higher Learning Institutions (HLI’s) Technology, information and training

Institute of Biodiversity Conservation (IBC) Conservation of aquatic resources

Non-governmental Organizations NGO’s Technology up scaling, supporting research
Ministry of Water, Irrigation and Energy (MoWIE) Construction of water reservoirs
Consultative Group for International Agricultural Provision of technology information and financial
Research (CGIAR) Support
Addis Ababa Chamber of Commerce Financial support for aquaculture development, facilitate market
linkage
Professional associations and Information dissemination and exchange
community organizations
Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST) Provision of financial support and IPR service
Ministry of Finance and Economic Development Financial source
(MoFED)
Private entrepreneurs and investors End users of technology, up scaling, input suppliers,
processors
Ministry of Trade (MoT) Financial support, market linkage and investment
Facilitation, in import export facilitation
Ethiopian Standards Authority Develop standards
Ethiopian Institute for Public Health and Nutrition Technology and information
Research (EIPHNR)
Mass media institutions Popularization
International collaborators Provision of finance, training, scientific research inputs
Agricultural Transformation Agency(ATA) Multiplication and dissemination
Central Statistics Agency (CSA) Source official information and data
Ministry of industry Infrastructure and facilitation for input and processing

Draft Strategy Document for Aquaculture Commodity Research (2016-2030) Page 20

 Regional Bureau of Agriculture and Livestock Extension service

3.5 Benchmarking

As indicated in most sections of this document, aquaculture is rather new agricultural venture in Ethiopia. However,
aquaculture practices by the Chinese dates back in 1100 B.C. Recent aquaculture production data also revealed that
Asian countries like China,India, Viet Nam, Indonesia and Bangladish are the top 5 countries which contribute about 80%
(61.7% that of China) of word total farmed fish production. Although the contribution of Africa to the world’s aquaculture
production is 2.2% in 2012 (FAO, 2014), Egypt’s advancement and experiences in aquaculture, which contributed 1.5% of
farmed fish production to the world, can be benchmarked in our case. The Nile River, that creates historical ties between
Egypt and Ethiopia, can also be an opportunity to share experiences and best practices as they are using the same water
resource and aquatic species including fish in the river. Considering this fact the team tried to review and draw lessens
from Egypt and other neighboring countries like Uganda and Kenya to consider during this strategy document preparation.

Draft Strategy Document for Aquaculture Commodity Research (2016-2030) Page 21

4 Strategic Issues and interventions

Table 3 Major thematic areas and their corresponding strategic issues and intervention on aquaculture

search Strategic issues Strategic interventions

discipline Short-term Medium-term Long-term
(2016-2020) (2021-2025) (2026-2030)
General

 Limited skilled human  Short-term and MSc/MA  Advanced technical training  Continuous provision of
resource training on modern research on scientific tools , MSc/MA, advanced technical
techniques PhD studies training on scientific
 High staff turnover  Recruit qualified research  Develop and maintain a tools , MSc/MA, PhD
staff system for good studies
 Absence of  Good governance and governance and working  Develop and maintain a
specialized practical working environment for environment for system for good
training package on researchers (privileges) researchers (privileges) governance and working
aquaculture for environment for
external stakeholders  Develop curricula for tailor-  Provide specialized researchers (privileges)
and professionals made training programs in practical training in  Provide specialized
aquaculture aquaculture practical training in
 Capacity building and aquaculture
structural arrangement
(Research & Training
Institute)
 Limited infrastructure  Building laboratory and  Building fish processing and  Fish processing and
(facility and logistic) training hall, purchase of training units, access jetties training units, staff
field vehicle, basic field and to major lakes staff residence, boat
lab equipment residence, purchase of boat (scientifically equipped),
(scientifically equipped), boat trolley
boat trolley

Draft Strategy Document for Aquaculture Commodity Research (2016-2030) Page 22

  Limited financial  Allocate sufficient budget for  Allocate sufficient budget  Allocate sufficient budget
resource research projects for research projects for research projects

Main Research themes

Fish  Lack of improved  Characterize the growth and  Select and develop  Develop improved tilapia
breeding, culture fish strain reproductive performance of improved tilapia strain strain through crossing
genetics and different Nile tilapia through crossing  Apply molecular
biotechnology populations  Adopt protocols and techniques for strain
 Molecular description of procedures for molecular improvement
growth and reproductive application in strain  Popularize improved
 Absence of fish traits from different tilapia improvement tilapia strain to fish
breeding strategy populations farmers
  Drafting the strategy
 Limited knowledge on  Generate information on  Continue generating
biology and culturing biology and culturing information on additional
of candidate techniques of fish species candidate species and
indigenous fish domesticate potential
species species
 Poor application of Assess suitable  Adopt protocols and  Apply molecular
advanced biotechnological tools procedures for molecular techniques for strain
biotechnological tools applicable in fish genetics techniques in fish breeding improvement
and seed multiplication and seed multiplication
 Limited mass fish Develop manual and  Popularize seed  Popularize seed
seed production procedures for artificial/semi- multiplication techniques multiplication techniques
techniques and brood artificial seed propagation (artificial and semiartificial) (artificial and
stock management and brood stock of culture fish species semiartificial) of culture
management of African  Continue developing fish species
Catfish (Clarias gariepenis), improved and robust  Continue developing

Draft Strategy Document for Aquaculture Commodity Research (2016-2030) Page 23

 Common carp (Cyprinus techniques improved and robust
carpio) Nile tilapia techniques
(Oreochromis niloticus) and
Japanese Gold fish
(Carassius auratus)
 Limited knowledge on  Generate information on  Continue generating
biology and culturing biology and culturing information on additional
of potential indigenous techniques of potential species and domesticate
fish species for indigenous ornamental fish suitable species
ornamental purpose species

 Selection of better
performing strain from
different populations

Culture  Limited studies on fin-  Evaluate semi-intensive  Adapt intensive fin-fish  Continue adapting
systems and fish culture techniques pond culture, and integrated production systems (re- intensive fin-fish
management and production system aquaculture agriculture circulating systems, production systems (re-
productions aquaponics, raceway, circulating systems,
 Identify suitable culture enclosure, tank, cage, pen) aquaponics, raceway,
techniques and production  enclosure, tank, cage,
systems for different water pen)
sources
 Limited knowledge on  Evaluate the suitability of  Develop alternative mass  Continue developing
application and culture fresh water shellfish culture techniques for mass culture techniques
techniques of  Adapt mass culture planktoninc crustaceans for planktoninc
crustaceans and techniques for planktoninc crustaceans
shellfish crustaceans
 Limited knowledge on  Review existing aquaculture  Evaluate and develop  Popularize suitable
aquaculture system system designs, materials different aquaculture aquaculture system
designs for constructing culture system designs and designs for wider

Draft Strategy Document for Aquaculture Commodity Research (2016-2030) Page 24

 systems materials for constructing application
culture systems
 Limited studies on  Review and compile the  Generate information on
 Continue developing
water quality water quality dynamics of water quality dynamics in
manuals for water quality
dynamics for culture different culture systems intensive culture systems
management in intensive
systems (fish  Generate information on on-  Develop manual for water
culture systems
containment) farm and on-station pond  Popularize guidelines for
quality management for
 water quality dynamics different culture systems
water quality
management for different
culture systems
Fish feed and  Limited studies on  Develop/formulate fish feeds  Continue developing feeds  Continue developing high
nutrition grow-out fish feed for from locally available from locally available quality fish feeds for
common culture fish ingredients for major culture ingredients for major culture intensive fish culture
species (O. niloticus, fish species (grow-out fish) fish species (grow-out fish) (grow-out fish)
C.gariepenis,   Develop/formulate high
Cyprinus carpio) quality fish feeds for
intensive fish culture (grow-
out fish)

 Lack of live feed for  Develop live feed Develop high quality feed for  Continue developing high
different development propagation techniques nursery stages quality feed for nursery
stage of fish species stages
 Continue developing
 alternative live feeds for
different developmental
stages
 Lack of feed for shell-  Assess available  Evaluate growth
shellfish culture information on shell fish performance of selected
feeding biology and feed shell fish on imported
formulation feed
Algal culture  Limited knowledge on  Adapt micro-algal isolation  Develop alternative, cost  Continue improving
for food, the culture techniques and culture technique effective technique for culture and mass

Draft Strategy Document for Aquaculture Commodity Research (2016-2030) Page 25

 feed and and utilization  Adapt culturing and mass production of micro algae production techniques
biofuel economically production techniques of and aquatic ferns and popularization
important algae and aquatic ferns for animal feed 
aquatic plant species
Aquaculture  Limited information  Determine major fish  Develop guide book on  Continue developing
fish health on fish diseases and diseases and disease disease and parasite prevention and treatment
pathogens in cultured causing organisms affecting cultured fish methods
fin and shell fish (protozoans, fungus, species  Develop vaccines for
 Limited information on bacteria and viruses) in  Develop fish disease some fish disease
fish parasites in different culture systems prevention and treatment
containment and  Determine fish parasites and methods
production system their prevalence rates
 Absence of fish  Generate information on
disease/parasite disease susceptibility at
prevention and different life stages of fish
treatment methods
 Under utilization of  Assess the suitability of  Continue assessing the  Continue assessing the
man-made and man-made water bodies and suitability of man-made suitability of man-made
temporary water stock appropriate fish water bodies and stock water bodies and stock
bodies species appropriate fish species appropriate fish species

 Limited information on  Evaluate the adaptability  Continue assessing  Evaluate the applicability
the status of stocked status of stocked fish upcoming man-made water of semi-intensive and
and newly man-made species in man-made water bodies for extensive fish intensive roduction
water bodies bodies production systems in some man-
 made water bodies

Socio-  Lack of awareness on  Demonstrate and popularize  Generate information on  Assess impact of
economics aquaculture aquaculture technologies economic feasibility of aquaculture technologies
and  Inadequate transfer of and practices different culture systems on livelihoods
extension aquaculture  Establish fish farming village  Assess impact of  Demonstrate fish
technologies in potential aquaculture belts aquaculture technologies on harvesting, recipe
 Lack of awareness on  Demonstrate/popularize fish livelihoods preparation and

Draft Strategy Document for Aquaculture Commodity Research (2016-2030) Page 26

 fishing, fish recipe
preparation, and
consumption
 Lack of market
linkage in reservoir
fishery
utilization from stocked man-  Demonstrate fish consumption
made water bodies harvesting, recipe  Create market linkage in
 Demonstrate fish harvesting, preparation and reservoir fishery
recipe preparation and consumption
consumption  Create market linkage in
reservoir fishery

Cross-cutting themes
GIS, biometry  Inadequate zonation  Develop aquaculture  Update zonation for Update zonation for
and ICT of potential zonation for major culture additional culture species additional culture species
aquaculture regions in species in Ethiopia using
Ethiopia GIS tools

Gender  Limited effort on  Promote gender oriented  Promote gender oriented  Promote gender oriented
mainstreaming of technology generation and technology generation and technology generation
gender on aquaculture extension extension and extension

Climate  Limited information on  Consider aquaculture  Assessment of seasonal  Prioritize resilient

change impact and mitigation technologies that utilize fluctuation of small water aquaculture technologies
measures of climate available water resource bodies using models adaptive to climate
change on efficiently  Prioritize resilient change
aquaculture aquaculture technologies  Promote and popularize
adaptive to climate change climate resilient
aquaculture production
practices

Draft Strategy Document for Aquaculture Commodity Research (2016-2030) Page 27

5 Next Steps: Developing complementary documents for the Strategy

Following the approval of the strategy document by the top management of EIAR, the following documents should be
prepared to implement the strategy.
 Develop implementation plan
 Develop monitoring and evaluation plan
 Develop impact assessment plan
 Develop reassessment plan for the strategy

Draft Strategy Document for Aquaculture Commodity Research (2016-2030) Page 28

6 Reference

Adamneh Dagne, Fasil Degefu and Aschalew Lakew (2013) Comparative growth
performance of mono-sex and mixed-sex Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)
in pond culture system at Sebeta, Ethiopia. Internationaal Journal of
Aquaculture, 3 (7), 30-34.
Cumberlidge, N. ( 2009) Freshwater crabs and shrimps (Crustacea: Decapoda) of
the Nile Basin. In: Dumont, H.J. (Ed.) The Nile: Origin, Environments,
Limnology and Human Use. Springer, Netherlands
Eshete Dejen and Zemnu Mintesnot (2012) A generic GIS based site suitability
analysis for pond production of Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) in
Ethiopia. In: The role of aquatic resources for food security in Ethiopia,
proceedings of the fourth annual conference of the Ethiopian Fisheries and
Aquatic Sciences Association (EFASA), editors: Brook Lemma and Abebe
Getahun, AAU Printing Press, Addis Ababa, 30-61.
FAO (2014) The state of world fiasheries and aquaculture-opportunities and
challenges. Rome, pp 243.
FAO (2011) Brief on fisheries and aquaculture in Ethiopia.
Gashaw Tesfaye and Wolff M. (2014) The state of inland fisheries in Ethiopia: a
synopsis with updated estimates of potential yield. Ecohydrology &
Hydrobiology, 14: 200–219
Getinet G. Tsadik, AbebaW. Gebreil, Adamneh Dagne and Yared Tigabu (2015)
Integration of aquaculture and irrigation (IAI): Opportunities and challenges to
maximize fish production from small water bodies designed for irrigation in
Tigray, North Ethiopia. In the proceedings of the 7th International Conference
of Ethiopian Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences (EFASA). Pp 139-163
Golubtsov A., Mina S., (2003) Fish species diversity in the main drainage systems of
Ethiopia: current state of knowledge and research prospective. Ethiop. J. Nat.
Resour., 5 (2) 281–318. Golubtsov, A.S., Darkov, A.A., 2008. A review of fish
diversity in the main drainage systems of Ethiopia. In: Pavlov, S.D.,

Draft Strategy Document for Aquaculture Commodity Research (2016-2030) Page 29

 Dgebuadze, Yu.Yu., Darkov, A.A., Golubtsov, S.A., Mina, V.M. (Eds.),
Ecological and Faunistic Studies in Ethiopia. KMK Scientific Press Ltd.,
Moscow, pp. 69– 102.
Harrison A. D. and Hynes H. B. (1988) Benthic fauna of Ethiopian mountain streams
and rivers. Archiv fur Hydrobiologie Supplement, 81, 1–36.
Kassahun A., H Waidbacher and W Zollitsch 2012. Proximate composition of
selected potential feedstuffs for small-scale aquaculture in Ethiopia. Livestock
Research for Rural Development 24 (6) pp.17.
Kebede Elizabeth, Ahlgren G. (1996) Optimum growth conditions and light utilization
efficiency of Spirulina platensis (Arthrospira fusiformis) from Lake Chitu,
Ethiopia. Hydrobiologia, 332, 99–109.
NFALRC (2015) Compiled research outputs of National Fishery and Aquatic Life
Research 1998-2015. Pp. 9
Redeat Habteselassie (2012) Fishes of Ethiopia. Annotated Checklist with Pictorial
Identification Guide. Addis Ababa.
Shibru Tedela, Fisha H. Michael (1981) Introduction and transplantation of fresh-
water fish species in Ethiopia. SINET: Ethiop. J. Sci. 4, 69–72.
Yared Tigabu, Fassil Degefu, Aschalew Lakew and Gashaw Tesfaye (2011):
Development of small scale fish farming for livelihood diversification in North
Shewa Zone, Amhara Regional State. In: “Impacts of climate change and
population on tropical aquaticresources”, the proceedings of the 3rd
International Conference of Ethiopian Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
(EFASA).Editors: Brook Lemma and Abebe Getahun, Addis Ababa. Pp. 79-
98.
Zenebe Tadese, Abeba W. Gebriel, Mulugeta Jovani, Fekadu Tefera and Fasil
Degefu (2012) Effect of supplementary feeding of agro-industrial byproducts
on the growth performance of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus L.) in concrete
ponds. Ethiop. J. Biol. Sci. 11(1) 29-41.

Draft Strategy Document for Aquaculture Commodity Research (2016-2030) Page 30

7 Annexes

Annex 1 Some stocked water bodies

Region Water bodies Stocked fish species

Tigray Hashengie, Atsebi, Midmar, Dereka, Maingus, Oreochromis niloticus

Mesekebete many small reservoirs (>25) and common carp
Oromia Fincha , Melka Wakena, Koka, Amerti, Tolay, Birati, Sorga, O.niloticus, Tilapia zilli
Denbi,Gefersa, Giligel Gibe I, Legedadi, Muger, Debrezeyt and common carp
crater lakes, Dendi, Wonchi, Ponds ( Wonji, West and
South west showa)
Amhara Haik, Ardibo, Zengana, Mullo, Bahire georgies, Maibahir, O.niloticus and
Tachibahir, Laibahir, Ango-mesk, Washa, Geray, Terba, common carp
Washa, Ponds (north showa zone)

SNNP Small Abaya, Cile chefe, Dembi, Chencha kure, Damte, O.niloticus and
Areket, Dewoshe common carp

Gambel Bishanwaqa O.niloticus

la
Afar Tendaho O.niloticus

Somali Ela bayehi O.niloticus

Draft Strategy Document for Aquaculture Commodity Research (2016-2030) Page 31

Annex 2 Candidate aquaculture species

Species name Common Local name Remarks

name
Oreochromis niloticus Nile tilapia Koroso Indigenous species
Found in most lakes &
reservoirs
Clarias garipineus African Ambaza Indigenous species
catfish Found in most lakes rivers &
reservoirs
Cyprinus carpio common Duba Exotic species
carp Found in most lakes &
reservoirs
Carassius auratus Goldfish Yegiate assa Exotic species
Found on-station at NFALRC
Salmo trutta Brown trout Exotic species
Found in Bale Highland rivers
Salmo gairdneri , Rainbow Exotic species
trout Found in Bale Highland rivers
Heterotis heterotis Indigenous species
Found in Gambella lakes,
rivers & reservoirs

Draft Strategy Document for Aquaculture Commodity Research (2016-2030) Page 32