Problems of marine fisheries in developing countries: The Ethiopian case

Abstract

Least developed countries (LDCs) are characterized by famine, malnutrition, drought, unemployment, diseases, instability and high population growth, and are dependent on an agricultural economy. Ethiopia is one of these countries which is unable to utilize its natural resources either sufficiently or efficiently. The fishing ground of the Ethiopian Red Sea coast (ERSC) is believed to have a high potential in marine natural resources; nevertheless it has contributed little to the country nutritionally, and none to its national economy at a time when it is in need of both food and foreign exchange. An attempt was made to study the life history of the ERSC fisheries since 1953—a study conducted around Mitsiwa and the Dahlak Archipelago based on personal observations and discussions with fishermen, personnel of the Fisheries office at Mitsiwa and the Mitsiwa Naval Base, and others, as well as secondary data. To critically assess and analyse its features, an integrated approach of the Fisheries Development System was used. The fisheries are found to be at their lowest status in that there is no significant utilization of the marine natural resources. This is due to a combination of social, economic, political, biological, psychological and technological problems. To overcome the problems facing its development, there is a need for training and reorganizing fishermen; for qualified fisheries personnel; for research encompassing various disciplines; for surveys to may the fishing grounds; and for the modernization of vessels. However, strategic modernization is preferable to complete modernization. Finding ways and means of getting capital for investment presents another problem.