Characteristics and Status of the Highland Lake Hashenge Fishery, Tigray, Northern Ethiopia

The study was intended to show the characteristics and the status of fishery in Lake Hashenge. Assessment of fishing practices was done by using questionnaires. Physico- chemical parameters of the lake water shows optimum for fish growth. In the lake there are three fish species of those two are economically important fish species. Common carp (Cyprinus carpio, Cyprinidae) introduced into the lake in the 2000s has grown to become the most important source of protein food for the four village communities. Realizing the importance of common carp, the fishermen seek the possibility of introducing a new tilapia species, Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus, Cichlidae) to the lake. With current Nile tilapia already providing a sufficient source of protein, coupled with the surrounding people, caution must be taken in any further developments. Information on the fishery, water quality parameters and the physical environment of Lake Hashenge were collected to describe the characteristics and status of the lake fishery. A total of 265 specimens composed of juveniles and adults from lake were identified and classified. They comprised of three species belonging to two orders and two families. The catch per unit effort (CPUE) for Lake Hashenge was 23.38 kg/boat/day and estimated maximum sustainable yield of the lake were about 161.76 tones/year. The catch per unit effort of lake indicating the fact that the lake seem to be in an under exploited condition since the result of the potential yield is greater than the actual yield.