Aqua Culture and Aquaponics Technology

It is known that the Ethiopian Rift Valley lakes are supporting the majority of the capture fisheries in Ethiopia. However, most of the lakes are either overexploited or at the verge of collapse. The potential of the capture fisheries in these lakes is in no way capable of supporting the fish demand locally and on a national basis. Therefore, it is mandatory for the region in particular and the country at large to develop alternative fisheries from aquaculture.
A group led by Prof. Abebe Getahun is undertaking research on aquaculture and aquaponics with fish hatchery technology using local feeds and aquaponics. This study develops ways of testing the feasibility of applying the major aquaculture techniques that include pond and cage culture as well as aquaponics. The focal fish species are the main commercial species, Oreochromis niloticus (Nile tilapia). The growth characteristics of the species under different aquaculture systems with different locally available and formulated feed and stocking densities will be determined. The technology they developed that can easily be replicated for further dissemination.