Assessment of Fish Composition and Indigenous knowledge on Fishing Activities in Gilo River, Jor woreda, Anywaa Zone, Gambella Regional State, Ethiopia

Abstract

Fishes are the most diverse of all the vertebrate taxa. They constitute more than 27, 977 of the 54, 711 extant vertebrate species. In Sub-Saharan Africa, fish is a crucial food for over 400 million people. Ethiopia is rich in inland water bodies with diversified fish species, consisting of more than 200 species, composed of Nilo-Sudanic, East African, and endemic forms. The entire area of lakes and reservoirs in the country is about 7000 - 8000 km2 and the important rivers stretch over 7000 km. Fishing in the country is artisanal, especially in the Baro-Akobo basin and its floodplains. Indigenous knowledge encouraged regeneration and sustainable utilization of fish. The knowledge systems have been conserved and passed on from generation to generation through oral talk. Thus, this study aimed to assess fish composition and indigenous knowledge on fishing activities in Gilo River, Anywaa Zone, Jor Woreda, Gambella Regional State. A cross-sectional survey was used as a research design. Fish specimens were collected exhaustively from traditional diverse fishermen catch that used gears of diverse types. The study population for the assessment of indigenous knowledge included inhabitants who mainly depend on fishing in the study area. A purposive sampling technique was used to select the study participants. Questionnaires, focus group discussions, and observation were used to collect the required data for the indigenous knowledge. A total of 768 fish specimens, belonging to 14 species in 12 genera, 12 families, and 7 orders were identified from Gilo River at the study area during the present study and more than 17 traditional fishing gears and techniques were recorded during the study. As part of the indigenous knowledge related to fishing, two poison fishing plants and two ways of preserving fish after harvesting fish, such as drying in the sun (Peetø) and fish smoking on fire (Nginynyø), were identified. Poor sharing, management, and conservation of indigenous knowledge on fisheries might be due to the highest impact of modernization. So, government, non-government and local people should take care of awareness creation on indigenous knowledge of fishing, through conducting lots training program about the importance of indigenous knowledge of fishing activities with the local fishermen to keep their knowledge in wor