Bishoftu crater lakes, economically important lakes in the country. However, the physico-chemical parameters of the lake seem to be threatened by anthropogenic, which in turn affects biotic factors as reflected in fish catch. A study was made to assess the current physico-chemical characteristics, to assess the composition and production potential of the fishes and to assess the constraints that affects the production of the fishes in the lakes during July 2018-June 2021 in the waterbodies. Temperature ranged from 20.06 ± 0.3 0 C (L. Hora-Kilole) to 21.3 ± 1.50C (L. Hora-Arsedi) whereas pH ranged from 8.4 ± 0.8 (L. Koriftu) to 9.1 ± 0.1(Hora-Kilole). Dissolved oxygen varied from 6.4.31 ± 0.8 to 7.9 ± 0.9 mg/l. Low dissolved oxygen was measured at Lake Koriftu categorized as heavily impacted sites. Conductivity varied from 345.1 ± 2.4 in L.Koriftu to 967 ± 36 μS/cm (L.Babogaya). Soluble Reactive Phosphate varied from 39.36 ± 0.3 (H.kilole) to 51.13 ± 5.2 μg/l (Koriftu) and nitrite ranged from 31.2 ± 5.4 (Babogaya) to 44.05 ± 0.6 μg/l (Koriftu). Five species of fishes in the Families Cyprinidae, Clariidae and Cichilidae were identified from the lakes. The species were Cyprinus carpio, Labeobarbus intermedius from the Family Cyprinidae, Clarias gariepinus from the Family Clariidae and Oreochromis niloticus and Tilapia zillii from the Family Cichilidae. Oreochromis niloticus and T. zillii were more abundant in all lakes as compare to other fish species. The estimated mean annual catch in tons per gear type was 2.3, 2.8, 1.1 and 1.6 for Lake H.kilole, H.Arsedi, Koriftu and Babogaya, respectively. Open access to the resource and pollution the major problems in the lakes. Thus, as a recommendation management tools like mesh size regulations, gear restrictions and limits on the number of fishers has to be for sustainable exploitation of the stocks and needs to develop aquaculture technologies like cage culture in the lakes.
Published Date: 2022-03-18; Received Date: 2022-02-18
