The study was conducted from July, 2013 to July, 2015 in the North-Eastern part of lake Tana. Six sites were selected from Fogera, Libokemkem and Dembia districts based on water hyacinth infestation and free area. Plant sample was collected from infested areas using quadrant and different parameters were recorded using sensitive balance and tape meter. The physical parameters were measured in situ using YSI 556 multi-probe system, while the chemical parameters were carried out using a portable water analysis kit. Zooplankton and phytoplankton samples were collected by 80 and 50 µm mesh net filtering device. Moreover, structured questionnaire, focuses group discussion, key informant interview has been used to collect some quantitative and qualitative data. 104 plants/m 2 and 8.216 ± 0.45 kg fresh weight/m 2 which equals 82,160 kg/ha or 82.16 tones/ha fresh weight can be harvested during the dry season of a year. But 583 plants/m 2 which equals 270,000 kg/ha = 270 tones/ha fresh weight can be harvested during the wet season of a year. The present assessment also noted that no major management strategy had been employed in the infested water body areas, despite many efforts had been applied by the community and the government. Water hyacinth poses serious problems on the community living around Lake Tana by affecting fishing process, farmland, livestock and the environment of in a variety of ways.

The study was conducted from June, 2015 to October, 2016 to assess the effect of water hyacinth on fishing and fishers around the North-Eastern part of Lake Tana. The presence of water hyacinth in Lake Tana has been recognized in 2011. Starting from the last five years, especially after 2014, fishing in the study area becomes tiring due to the expansion of this invasive weed. Water hyacinth entangles the fishing nets and boats' propeller, making it difficult to fish and resulting in reduced fish catches. Hence, a reduced fish catch would have an adverse effect on the quality of life of the communities around the lake and consequently affect sustainable development in the region. Despite the fact that several efforts have been made by different parties, water hyacinth in Lake Tana continues to expand itself year after year. Therefore, o its expansion is not easy to manage and complete eradication is unimaginable. Therefore, if the expansion of water hyacinth continues in this trend, it can negatively affect the livelihood of fishers in both directions by increasing costs of fishing and reducing the amount of fish caught.

Gudera wetland is accredited as a home for innumerable goods and services that have economic value for individuals living around and outside them. However, due to the absence of rehabilitation intervention, the wetland is at the edge of collapse at this time. This paper aims to: (1) estimate households' mean willingness to pay (WTP) for the rehabilitation of the wetland, (2) investigate determinants that affect the probability and intensity of WTP, and (3) estimate aggregated welfare gains from the intervention. To address these objectives, data from 237 household heads were collected using a two-stage random sampling procedure. For the analysis, econometric models, such as bivariate probit and double hurdle, were employed to estimate the mean WTP and determinants of WTP, respectively. The result demonstrates that the mean WTP value from the double bounded dichotomous choice ranges from 70.44 to 80.64 Ethiopian Birr per year per household. Likewise, the aggregated welfare gain expected from the rehabilitation intervention ranges from 2,464,977 ($85,589) to 2,821,916 ($97,983) Ethiopian Birr per year. The double hurdle model result revealed that participation in natural resource conservation, frequency of extension contact and trust in budget allocation have a positive and significant effect on households' WTP. Whereas, factors, such as land size around the wetland, distance to the wetland and credit utilization have a negative influence on households' WTP. These findings suggest that most of the sampled households are willing to contribute for the rehabilitation intervention and this could have implications for the success of future implementation.

Solar tent fish drier (STFD) reduce post-harvest losses, thereby ensuring continuous availability of cheap animal protein. This study aimed to: (1) minimize post harvest losses by improving the shelf life dried fish; (2) enhance technology multiplication and dissemination system; (3) create clear insight about the technology implementation. This study was carried out in the northern and northwestern part of Lake Tana from June, 2014 to June, 2015. Purposive sampling methods were used to select Dembiya, Alefa and Gondar zuriya districts with their respective locality. Transact walk, interview, focus group discussion, and stakeholder consultation were used to collect qualitative data. Quantitative data were collected from 38 sample households by preparing structured questionnaire. Likert scale scoring, descriptive statistics such as percentage, mean, and standard deviations were used for analysis. The age structure of the sample households shows an average of 33.97 years and 44.7% of the respondents were female. Sample households average family size is 4.6 and the distance from the home to the main road takes 63.89 minutes of walk. The solar tent fish drier was prepared from readily available materials such as; wood, white and black plastic, nail, rope and mesh wire with a size of 2meter height and 1.7 meter length. For this activity, six tents were prepared for three districts and fish species selected for the activity was labeobarbus intermedius. The salt amount used was 60gram iodine salt per liter in brine form. The weight of dried fish becomes stable and dried well in the third day; with total moisture losses of 60%. Drying fish by solar tent fish dryer enables to produce hygienic, high quality, organoleptically good dried fish with low cost. By drying quickly it is possible to reduce post harvest losses thereby ensuring continuous availability of cheap animal protein. Absence of better price for fish dried by solar tent is the main challenge for further adoption. Promotion and market linkage for the quality dried fish; continuous support and follow up are very important to sustain the technology. Materials and Methods Site selection and providing training This study was carried out in the northern and northwest part of Lake Tana. The study areas were selected based on the existence of surplus fish production and fish drying experience. Based on the

Fishing plays a critical role as a 'bank in the water' for local populations that largely rely on this activity to access cash quickly. This study aimed: (1) to assess the importance of fisheries in improving farmer's livelihood in the study area. (2) to assess households and individual's involvement in inland fisheries in terms of utilization and management, and (3) to recommend means of interventions for sustainable use of the resource and enhance benefits from the river fishery. This activity was conducted by using a combination of monitoring of fish catch, focus group discussions, and key informant interviews. Fishing is seasonal and intensively carried out during the dry seasons starting from February up to April. The most popular fishing gears used for fishing are the seed of Millettia ferruginea (in Amharic called Birbira) and barks of Balanites aegyptiaca (locally called Bedeno). In the area the main fish type consumed by the community are Clarias gariepinus [catfish] and Labeobarbus intermedius [Barbus] fish species in fresh and sun dried forms but Oreochromis niloticus is not known as it is edible. The farmers have a good fish consumption habit which is by far greater than the town's inhabitants. Hence, Farming and fishing are overwhelmingly the most important activities for household food supply and means of income generation. Fish catches from the rivers have declined significantly because of the destructive way of fishing, water pollution, and resource encroachment, thereby threatening the sustainability of Jemma and Wonchit river fisheries as well as the river's ecosystem.