A Drivers-Pressure-State-Impact-Responses Framework to Support the Sustainability of Fish and Fisheries in Lake Tana, Ethiopia

Abstract

Lake Tana, Ethiopia's largest lake, has a remarkable and conservation-worthy assemblage of fish species, requiring fisheries management for sustainable exploitation. However, due to anthropogenic impacts, many of these fish species are threatened. Hence, an improved management of these resources is recommended. To allow a more sustainable exploitation of natural resources, a better understanding of the cause-effect relationships between anthropogenic impacts and environmental components is fundamental. The Drivers-Pressure-State-Impact-Responses (DPSIR) framework is a useful tool to describe these links in a meaningful way to managers and policy makers. Despite its potential, application of DPSIR is virtually lacking in developing countries. This paper assessed the potential of the DPSIR framework and used it to comprehensively describe the available knowledge and management needs in the lake catchment. Rapid population growth and the economic transformation are the main driving forces leading to various pressures such as water quality and wetlands degradation as well as declining fish community, which is detrimental to the socio-economic state and health of the local inhabitants. As feedback to the driving forces, pressures, state changes and impacts, optimal multi-level responses are developed. This study aims at providing policy makers a better understanding of the lake catchment in order to bridge the gap between science and decision-making.

Hydrological Foundation as a Basis for a Holistic Environmental Flow Assessment of Tropical Highland Rivers in Ethiopia

“…A decline in juvenile labeobarb abundance in the pool habitats of Gumara River occurred because of excess irrigation water abstraction, especially in the dry season months of March to May [44]. In addition, several studies found that in recent years, fish stocks declined rapidly, especially commercially important fish species like Labeobarbus' which are migratory fishes requiring wetland habitats for breeding [23,32,45]. From these results, we infer that the river is becoming disconnected earlier from the floodplain wetlands because of a decrease in "ecologically relevant" large floods.…”

New Strategies to Improve Co-Management in Enclosed Coastal Seas and Wetlands Subjected to Complex Environments: Socio-Economic Analysis Applied to an International Recovery Success Case Study after an Environmental Crisis

“…Given that the situation of the Mar Menor goes beyond mere environmental problems, it is necessary to establish a framework that approaches the situation from a multidisciplinary focus in which it is possible to involve all stakeholders. Stakeholders have been selected following a DPSIR (Driving forces, Pressure, State, Impact, and Response) model [55] (Figure 3).…”

“…Given that the situation of the Mar Menor goes beyond mere environmental problems, it is necessary to establish a framework that approaches the situation from a multidisciplinary focus in which it is possible to involve all stakeholders. Stakeholders have been selected following a DPSIR (Driving forces, Pressure, State, Impact, and Response) model [55] (Figure 3). During the first stage (Driving Forces), a preliminary analysis has been carried out through which the most significant elements of the problem and possible information prescribers have been determined.…”

The Endemic Species Flock of Labeobarbus spp. in L. Tana (Ethiopia) Threatened by Extinction: Implications for Conservation Management

“…have different FL 50% [30], using a stretched mesh size of ≥ 10 cm is most advisable. In addition to mesh size restriction, we suggest the following management options for successful conservation of the lake fish and fisheries: (1) limitation of the number of fishers and fishing gears, (2) application of a hybrid bottom-up and top-down approach to identify problems, make decision and enforce the regulations [8], (3) limitation of the amount of landing sites, (4) provision of license to all fishers, (5) hire fishery inspectors, (6) establish standard data acquisition protocols and gather fisheries information regularly, (7) revision (e.g., incorporate development issues such as sand mining and damming) and proper implementation of regulations, and (8) continuous monitoring and assessment. Therefore, we suggest the local fisheries authorities incorporate these management options in the Lake Tana fish and fisheries management plan.…”