Nigat Lake Fish Harvest Creates Vital Jobs for Local Youths

Addis Ababa, October 15, 2025 (ENA) -- Young people fishing on Nigat Lake, the massive reservoir created by the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), said the lake's abundant fish yield has created livelihood for many local youths.

Nigat Lake is a major tourist destination, boasting over 70 islands. Crucially, its burgeoning fish stock has also established itself as a vital income source for local communities.

In Benishangul-Gumuz region, a large number of young people are not only sustaining their livelihood  by catching fish and supplying  to the market.

Approached by the Ethiopian News Agency (ENA),  youths employed in this sector stressed that the fish harvest from Nigat Lake has directly created jobs to a considerable portion of the community.

Michael Anejum and Ramadan Seid, who are members of a fishing association in Firdos Kebele of Menge Woreda, expressed their satisfaction with utilizing the lake.

They described it as a breathtaking recreational site and a productive source of fish, a dual benefit that many in the area are now capitalizing on.

The fish harvest has introduced an entirely new revenue stream to the locals and is being actively promoted as a key food alternative, the youth reported.

The benefits have also extended to Sudanese refugees sheltered in the region. Abdulbaghi Nur and Endris Areya  who are Sudanese refugees confirmed that they are purchasing fish from the young fishermen at fair prices and operating eatery businesses, expressing their contentment with the arrangement.

They noted that the GERD, apart from generating hydro power, has created the Nigat Lake, providing practical economic benefits for fishery , which helped not only Ethiopians but also the refugee community.

The Sudanese refugees extended their gratitude to the Ethiopian government for its generosity in hosting them, calling the country a "friend in a time of hardship".

"The local community has enabled us to share in all the resources," they stated, adding, "Ethiopia has truly become our second home."

Salah Rahmetella, Deputy Administrator of Menge Woreda, acknowledged the numerous advantages flowing from the GERD, particularly emphasizing how the fish wealth of Nigat Lake is transforming the lives of young people.

He confirmed that numerous local residents and the Sudanese refugees are now beneficiaries of this rich aquatic resource.

Nigat Lake holds 74 billion cubic meters of water, containing more than 70 islands.