Social, economic and management status of small-scale fisheries in Omo River Delta and Ethiopian side of Lake Turkana, southern Ethiopia

Abstract

Ethiopia's inland fisheries offer an alternative livelihood for the riparian communities. One of these inland fisheries, the Omo-Turkana fisheries, have not been properly studied and managed. The main purpose of this study, therefore, was to assess social, economic aspects and related problems of fisheries in the Lower Omo River and Ethiopian side of Lake Turkana for better management and sustainable use of the resources. Various instruments including structured questionnaires, focus group discussions, key informant interviews, personal observations, and secondary sources were used to gather data on the socio-economics and management problems of the fisheries. The fisheries support a considerable number of the local communities, who have much less other livelihood options apart from pastoralism. However, development of fisheries in these localities is marred by lack of material and technical support to the fishers cooperatives, lack of government commitment to capacitate the institutions that work on fisheries management and development, and the continued conflicts between Ethiopian and Kenyan fishers in an apparent competition over a fertile fishing ground. For comprehensive insight, we developed a fisheries value chain and discussed major issues arising out of it. To sustain the fisheries contributions to community livelihoods, it is recommended that due attention be given to conflict resolution between the Ethiopian Daasanach and the Kenyan Turkana fishers. Additionally, the co-management arrangement by the two countries is urgently needed to regulate illegal fishing in the lake as well as the Omo River Delta.