‘‘The fish import has increased since local market failed to satisfy the increasing demand in the country. This phenomenon is draining out the hard currency that otherwise would have used for other development purposes. And I hope this forum would discuss the issue of relevant fish production from the perspective of development goals of Ethiopia,’’ emphasized Vice President for Research and Community Service, Dr Guchie Gulie. Click here to see the Pictures.

Dr Guchie was speaking at 7th annual conference on ‘Sustainable fish production, societal welfare and development goals of Ethiopia’ organized by Ethiopian Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences Association (EFASA) and hosted by AMU at Main Campus from 7th to 8th Feb 2015.
He further adds, ‘‘In this context, Arba Minch University and EFASA should join hands to realize the national economic development goals. As we know ongoing constructions in the nation have given rise to many standing water resources and government is targeting such bodies for fish production without affecting projects.’’
The conference began with Dr Eshetu presenting EFASA’s annual report. AMU’s Dean of College of Natural Sciences, Dr Alemayehu Hailemichael, presenting AMU’s profile, apprised the audience with its historical journey, programmatic strength and relevant statistics.
In his opening speech, the emissary of Ministry of Agriculture, Mr Tadesse Sori, Director for Animal Production and Feed Development (livestock), reiterated, ‘‘We are now in Growth Transformation Plan-I (GTP-I) as GTP-II is likely to begin. In GTP-I, we have achieve lot of successes in fishery because of opportunities such as dam construction, irrigation schemes, and extension services; now our task is to keep up the pace and back EFASA in its endeavor.’’
Two days saw over 30 presentations which featured various aspects associated with fishery in Ethiopia i.e. untapped potential, rising demand, inadequate production and inherent limiting factors playing the spoil sport in realizing the objective.
All presenters and participants agreed to have found the prime causative factors like lakes are unexploited, poor knowledge, lack of input supply, virtual absence of market and physical infrastructure, lack of integrated and innovative approach, non-existent quality as there is no processing units across Ethiopia.
There was consensus that fishery in Ethiopia is still traditional, though the demand is rising but production is below mark, production-to-population ratio is 0.02% while WHO and FAO says it should be 40 gm/person/day were found to be distressing.
One of the presenters opined there are grey areas i.e. cooperatives exploited from taxes, middlemen are discouraged and riverine fishery is unregulated. Ethiopia with its 185 normal and 8 exotic species needs to discover new one.
On ultimate mitigation measures and the way out, they say, there should be enforcement regulation; research studies should be responsive, aquaculture is the way out in which alternate fishery needs to be developed, reservoirs be used for cage culture, they felt the need to have value chain and market-driven approach etc.
On the last day during general discussion new executive committee of EFASA was elected. Ministry of Science and Technology, Ministry of Agriculture, Addis Ababa University, Wolaita Soddo University, OLDHA and Fish For All were the sponsors of the program.
Ministry of Agriculture (livestock sector), Agriteam Canada Consulting Ltd., Bahir Dar Fish Processing Corporation, Bahir Dar Fishery Research Centre, Ziway Fishery Research Centre, Sebeta National Fishery Research Centre, Mettu, IGAD, Hawassa, Addis Ababa, Jimma, Arba Minch, Bahir Dar, Mizan Tepi, Debre Markos, Mekelle, Semerra, Debre Berhan universities and others participated in the conference.

(Corporate Communication Directorate: Philips Joseph)