Length based estimation population numbers of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) stock in Lake Hayq, Ethiopia

Abstract

The study was conducted at Lake Hayq, one of the lakes of Wollo, Ethiopia. Data were collected at the landing sites for 365 days (June 8, 2022 to June 7, 2023). The basic information gathered in the fishing part of the Lake was Nile tilapia caught by fishermen, the total number of tilapia and the increase in fishing effort. The aim of the research was to estimate the size of the Nile tilapia population and the fishing mortality rate in length groups for Nile tilapia stocks occurring in the lake. A Jones length-based cohort analysis model was used to estimate Nile tilapia population. The estimated Nile tilapia population was over 46.8 Million tilapia per year. The model estimates that more than 13.3 million 8-10 cm Nile tilapia are caught in fisheries each year.