Opportunities and its challenges in fish production: The case of Lake Koka, East Showa Zone, Oromia National Regional State, Ethiopia

Abstract

The study was conducted to assess opportunities and challenges in fishery the case of Lake Koka, Ethiopia. Interview, focus group discussion and personal observations were used as means of data collection. Response was solicited from households within the catchment area of the reservoir, key informants, fish cooperative chairman and cooperative member households. The collected data were analyzed through descriptive statistics and narration. At the study area fishing activities were done through cooperative form that make an opportunity to operate fishing at full time. In the study area farmers were used fishing mainly as direct income generation that used for direct use of family members. Fishing activities were also dominated by male household having of fishing experience of below five (5) years. In addition to fishing, those household support their livelihoods with other agricultural activities. Increasing the demand of fish, availability of commercially consumed fish species and Good market outlet are some of the main opportunity that was specified by fishing households. Evasive weed water hyacinth, inadequate government support and water pollution are mentioned as the main challenge with insufficient value chain and unreliable market situation. So, it should be need an emphasis on integrated management to overcome challenges for effective utilization fish resources.