GERD-Linked Lake Drives 7,956 Tons of Fish Supply in Nine Months

Mintesinot Niggusie

The Benishangul-Gumuz regional agriculture bureau says nearly 7,956 tonnes of fish have been supplied to the market over the past nine months from the reservoir formed by the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, Ahadu Radio reported. The water body, locally referred to as Nega Lake, is now producing as much as 300 tonnes of fish a day on average, according to the bureau. That compares with earlier annual output of between 800 tonnes and 1,000 tonnes when fishing activity was largely limited to major rivers in the region.

The bureau’s animal and fishery development directorate says the expansion has reshaped the sector’s employment structure, with 72 fishing cooperatives now operational and about 1,250 young people engaged in permanent work. Distribution has also widened. Fish harvested from the reservoir is being transported to Addis Ababa and other central markets, while supplies are also reaching communities across 16 districts within Benishangul-Gumuz.

Officials say infrastructure bottlenecks remain a constraint. Shortages of refrigerated transport are affecting post-harvest handling, while high costs of modern fishing boats are limiting operational scale. The bureau said efforts are under way, with government support and development partners, to expand cold-chain logistics and improve access to equipment. Plans are also being considered to link fishermen with private investors and develop export pathways for fish products.