Experts at the Ministry of Agriculture turn their heads to the underdeveloped fish industry, preparing a regulatory framework addressing production quality and market chain.

Officials contend that fish production and quality is plagued by overfishing, poor post-harvest handling, security concerns, and substandard market chains.

According to Tsigereda Fikadu, head of livestock, fishery development desk at the Ministry, traditional fishing methods and untrained fishermen have been the impending problems while the meagre priority given to the industry made it contribute little to the country's economy.

"It couldn't even meet the local demand," she said.

Production of fish stands at 101,4000tn, over half below the demand estimated at 215,0000tn.

With 17,000 fishermen that use traditional fishing gear such as nets and hooks, very few species are caught and even fewer species and lower quality are brought to the market.

According to Tsigereda, expanding the fish portfolio by introducing different methods of fish farming has been deemed essential. The regulation determines species that may be caught, fixing quotas and areas of fishing while setting minimum quality standards for fishing gear, licenses and storage equipment.

With less than 10 processing companies and one feed company, expanding the fish processing and feed manufacturing facilities through investments is stipulated.

The distribution of fish species and overall diversity has been bumpy. Estimates have shown that over 200 freshwater fish species are in over 20 lakes and 12 river basins.  Although there are 194 natives, 40 endemics, and six exotic species, only six varieties are presented for public consumption.

"The disproportion is alarming," she said.

Ethiopia has the lowest per capita consumption of fish, standing at less than 0.5kg but plans to improve by freezing the export sector until it meets the domestic demand. To promote research and development activities by expansion of research institutions through investments has been slated in the reform.

There are less than 20 exporters in the country with Sudan and Somalia being the destinations. Six types of dried, frozen and salted fish have been exported to the international markets in the past three years.

The Ethiopian Agricultural Authority is mandated to issue quality assurance for exporters of fish commodities. The Authority licensed only six active exporters who reside in Humera and Metema, where three exporters are left under the authority's oversight.

"We lost contact with the exports in Humera town," Seifu Hailu (PhD), import-export inspection certificate director at the Authority.

In the ended budget year, Ethiopia managed to export 28,659 dollars worth of fish to the Sudan markets, showing a 96pc dip from three years ago. Seifu indicated that even though there is a huge demand in countries like Asia, the underrated production and quality have hampered the country from reaching out.

"Export at this stage is not going to get us anywhere," he said, indicating that rehabilitating local production by inviting investors into fish production is a priority.

Exporters on the one hand, are struggling due to the high levied taxes and debilitating logistics and transportation.

Established with 500,000 Br capital, Birhanu Mebratu Export has been exporting Ambasa and Koroso types to mostly Sudan markets for over 16 years. Employing close to 25 people, the Company sources fish mainly from Amhara, Gambella, Sidama, and Afar regional states.