International Conference on Challenges & Opportunities in Fisheries & Aquaculture

COOPERATIVES AND FISHERIES MANAGEMENT –

ETHIOPIAN CASE STUDIES

Dr.M.Karthikeyan Dr.R.Karunakaran

Assistant Professor Assistant Professor

Dept of Cooperatives Dept. of Cooperatives

Ambo University Hawassa University

Ambo Awassa

May 1- 3, 2009 – Ambo University

Ethiopian Fishery Sector – An Overview• Ethiopia is a land-locked country and depends on its inland waterbodies

for fish supply for its population. The country's waterbodies have a surface area estimated at 7 334 km2 of major lakes and reservoirs, and 275 km2 of small water bodies, with 7 185 km of rivers within the country.

• Based on a systematic assessment of the lakes and on length-based empirical models for rivers, current annual total fish production potential is estimated to be 51 481 tonne.

• In 2001, total landing were estimated at 15 389 tons, which is about 30 percent of the calculated potential. Between 1994 and 2001, total landings fluctuated between 7 700 and 16 224 tonne.

• Despite this fluctuation, it has, on average, grown by 10 percent per year in the period. Current per capita fish production is less than 240 g per person per year; but nevertheless it is more than double the level of the early 1990s.

• Success in fisheries has been attributed mainly due to a favourable economic policy, which attracts cooperatives, private sector participation and project assistance in the fishery sector.

Ethiopian Fishery Sector – An Overview• The fishery is predominantly artisanal, currently involving 15 000 fishers

(of which 5 000 are considered full-timers), fishing from 2 342 boats (366 motorized steel or wooden vessels, and the rest are reed or raft vessels), with some 17 240 nets and 28 000 hook gear. Gear in use ranges from a variety of traps and spear, to gillnet and beach seine, and hooks on hand and longline. Motorized fishery is typical for lake Tana. Primitive locally produced wooden boats are common in lakes Koka, Ziway, Langano and Awassa. Beach seines are used on lakes Koka, Ziway and Langano. The use of gillnets and hook gear is widespread in the country's waterbodies.

• Since 1986, the Ethiopian Orthodox Church/Inter Kerk Urk (EOC/DICA) has implemented a development project in the southwest bay of lake Tana. The project extended some small assistance to the development of the most southern Rift Valley lake - Chamo - through the supply of equipment and materials to the old established fishers' cooperative in Arba Minch.

Data on Ethiopian Fishery Sector

• Current annual per capita fish production is less than 240 g. Despite this, based on only a single factor - population - current annual demand for fish in the country is estimated at 65 344 tonne, equivalent to 1 kg/person. Future demand at the present population growth rate will reach 83 483 tonne year 2010, 94 526 tonne in 2015 and 117 586 tonne in 2025.

• At present, the country has an estimated annual total exploitable fish potential of 51 481 tonne, which can meet only 79 percent of the current actual demand, 55 percent of the projected demand in 2010, and 44 percent of the projected demand in 2015, based solely on population size.

• Between 1994 and 2001, fish production more than doubled, but the composition of the catch varies greatly. In 2001, fishery product exports amounted to 54 187 tonne ($US 107 918) and imports were 35 575 tonne ($US 78 056). For the first time, exports exceeded imports, implying that fish is starting to contribute a net foreign currency earning to the national economy, despite its small quantity. The contribution of fisheries to GDP is marginal. At current ex-vessel prices it amounts to $US 3 563 per year.

Fish Consumption

• Though Ethiopians are traditionally meat eaters, eating habits have been shifting in favour of fish in areas and communities where there is regular and sufficient supply.

• In those communities, annual fish consumption can exceed 10 kg/person. This implies that fish consumption in the country is more highly influenced by supply factors than by culture.

Fisheries CooperativesAccording to Baticados et al.(1998), fishery cooperatives can co-manage

coastal fishery resources, help improve the living conditions of small-scale fishers, and slow down the rapid depletion of these resources.

Pollnac (1988) reviewed that over the last several decades, there has been a growing awareness of the important role fishermen’s organizations, especially cooperatives, can play in the development process.

Successful cooperatives generated by the fishermen themselves can be found in Belize (Gibson, 1978; FAO, 1971), Italy (Cattarinussi, 1973; Bonetti, 1976), among a Chinese minority in Malaysia (Narkswasdi, 1976), in the Philippines (Castillo, 1980), Grenada (Epple, 1979), Canada (FAO, 1971), and the United States (Poggie and Gersuny, 1974). Fishermen’s cooperatives in Belize are so successful that Gibson (1978) reported that Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) chose Belize as a potential site for training others in the organization of fisheries cooperatives.

• In Ethiopia, Of the circa 5 000 full-time fishers, 2790 are organized under 68 fishermen's cooperatives or peer groups, of which 1943 fishermen are registered under in 31 fishermen's cooperatives

concentrated in Oromia, SNNPR, Amhara and Tigray.

Benefits of Fisheries Cooperatives to Fishermen

1. Scattered fishermen are united by the cooperatives 2. Improved bargaining power 3. Huge capital - for fishing needs, purchase of mechanized boats,

erecting processing units, etc. 4. Loans for the purchase of boats 5. Provision of fishing accessories like fishnets, fishing yards, etc. 6. Cold storage facilities 7. Processing facilities and facilities like salting, drying, canning, etc can

be provided by fisheries cooperatives. 8. Value addition - canned fish, fish meal, fish oil, etc. 7. Good marketing channel for the fishermen. 8. Supply of diesel, ice, salt, and equipments could be made at a cheaper

price 9. Insurance facilities for the loss and damage of boat, equipment, and the

catch as well as life insurance, which could be provided by cooperatives.

Factors retarding the growth of

Fisheries Cooperatives • Lack of sense ownership feeling and cooperative spirit.

• Weak organization and management structure.

• Lack of loyalty among members.

• Lack of active participation both in management and business affairs

• High degree of Individualism rather than cooperativism or collectivism.

• Lack of well organized production and marketing system.

• Lack of mechanism for price stability and regulation.

• Natural calamities and cyclones

• Resource constraints

• Lack of Storage and processing facilities

• Lack of Institutionalized Training

Case from Nekemte• Haro Sorga Fishery Coop is established in 1993 EC (2001 GC) by 17 male and 3 female members

with capital of ETB 4600. At present the coop has 15 male and 3 female members with capital of ETB 204,200.

• Lake Area – 23 Ha. (Artificial lake)• Facilities – One Boat and One Net• The activities of the coop include:

– Fish production & Marketing2006/07 31.5 tonnes2007/08 24.5 tonnes2008/09 33.25 tonnes– Recreation Service for the community (Hall for wedding ceremony, etc.)– Plantations including coffee, vegetation and fruits like Avocado, Orange and managing natural forest resources.• Nursery management – more than 20,000 coffee seedlings• Beekeeping with 50 traditional and 5 modern beehives

Problems & Suggestions– • Financial / managerial problems• Skill training and member education is required

Video on Fishery Coop, Nekemte

Case from Tigray Region• The Hashengie Fishery Cooperative Society was formed during 1994. It is located in

Ofla woreda of south Tigray of Ethiopia.

• The society was formed with the objectives: to carry out fishing activities in sustainable and eco-friendly way, to maximize the benefits of the members through increasing their bargaining power, to familiarize members with modern fishing technologies such as boat, net, vehicle etc., and to increase the productivity in fishing and to maintain natural resources of the Hashenge lake.

• The functions of the cooperative are: catching fish using modern fishing technologies, collective marketing of their produce, processing of fish for marketing, transporting the produce, retailing of prepared fish, training the members on fishing, protecting the natural resources collectively and regulating over exploitation of the resources.

• Activities: Almost all the 95 members of the society were involved in catching fish and some involved in fish marketing. It is observed that remuneration to members was based on their contribution to fish production. Special remuneration was allowed to the management committee and also for those who were involved in processing fish

• The main perceived problems of the society is: Low Participation of members.

• Impact:. The net profit generated in 2005-06 was found to be 1680 Ethiopian Birr. The society achieved the twin objectives of providing economic benefit to their members and protection and optimum utilization of the lake for the community benefit.

Case from SNNP Region• The fishermen cooperative society of Awassa Lake was registered in the year 2001

under the Ethiopian Cooperative Societies Proclamation No.147/1998 with a membership of only 36 at the formation stage. At present there are about 106 members who constitute the edifice of the society. The result of the observation reveals that out of 106 members only 70 were reported to be the active members of the society. All active members owning boats, nets and other accessories for fishing as their own i.e., they didn’t receive any support from their cooperative society in this regard.

• According to the statistical report of RCPA the annual average production of fish was estimated to be 600 tones. The average daily catch is estimated to be 30-40 kg per boat depends upon the season. Nile Perch and Tilapia are the major types of fish being found and caught by the members. The daily average sales were worked out to be Birr.500-600.

Present Fishing Conditions in Ethiopia

1. Ethiopia is landlocked country and hence, the fishing outlet is limited to lakes.

2. Lakes form the major part of inland fishing in Ethiopia.

3. River fishing is not popular in Ethiopia.

4. Unlike other countries, the population is not divided as fishermen in Ethiopia.

5. There is no institutional support in the form of bank financing, government subsidy, training, etc., given to the fishing industry in Ethiopia.

Scope for Organizing Fisheries Cooperatives in Ethiopia

1. Fisheries cooperatives in the lake areas can be organized as an outlet of employment for the unemployed youth.

2. Several NGOs have experimented in organizing fisheries cooperatives in lake areas and they are running successfully.

3. As the priority for the government is on food security, fisheries cooperatives can be organized and encouraged.

4. Organization of fisheries cooperatives will enhance the production and marketing of fish besides Price Advantage.

5. The government through sponsored bodies may take steps to strengthen fishing industry on cooperative lines.

Recommendation

• By having understood the scope for organizing fisheries cooperatives in Ethiopia, it is recommended that an “Ethiopian Fisheries Cooperative Development Project” (EFCDP) can be initiated and launched with the support of FAO, CoopAfrica, World Fish Centre and FCA for the sustainable development of fishing industry on sound cooperative lines in Ethiopia.

THANK YOU