Management of Lake Ziway fisheries in Ethiopia

Abstract

This study has been conducted in the northern most Rift Valley lake fishery – lake Ziway. Catch & effort and economic data have been used to analyze its fishery. The aim of the analysis was to review the present management situation of the lake and to apply bioeconomic theory to estimate the maximum and economic yields of the lake. The Schaefer’s surplus production model has been employed to estimate the maximum sustainable yield, effort that takes the maximum sustainable yield and maximum economic yield together with EMEY. The values of MSY, EMSY, MEY, and EMEY are 3537 t/yr, 2660 boats/yr, 1011 t/yr, and 412 boats/yr respectively. Lake Ziway is the 3rd biggest rift valley lake next to lake Abaya and Chamo. It has a potential yield of about 15% of the country’s major lakes potential and it contributes also about 24% of the yield of all major lakes. Its socio-economic importance is found to be the highest in the region where it is situated. The analysis shows also that lake Ziway produces double fold of the yield of the biggest lake in the country. All years written as EC are equivalent to GC – 7 and/or 8 years.