Batu Fish and Other Aquatic Life Research Center (BFRC)

Location: The BFRC is located at 7.918⁰N & 37.727⁰E, at an altitude of 1643 meters above sea level, occupying an area 5.3 ha in the western shore of Hara Dambal (Lake Ziway) in Batu town.  Batu is situated in Centeral Rift Valley of Ethiopia, at a distance of 160 km south of Finfinne (Addis Ababa), the capital city.

Mandate area: BFRC is the only fisheries research center under the Oromia Agricultural Research Institute, which works for Oromia Region. The mandate area of the center covers all zones of Oromia region.

History and Establishment: The center, “Zeway Fisheries Resources Development Center”, was structured under different organizations for different missions during the last 44 years (1980-2024). It was established by the Ethiopian Ministry of Agriculture as a duty station for fishery development works and administered under federal government for 17 years (1980-1997). The center has served as a duty station for Lake Fishery Development Project (LFDP) phase-I (1980-1982) and phase II (1992-1994); the project was supported by European Economic Commission (EEC). In 1997, along with the establishment of regional government, the center was re-structured under Oromia Agricultural Development Bureau and served as a fisheries development center for four years (1997-2001). It was aimed to establish sustainable fisheries resources utilization in the region through fishing gear provision, resource monitoring, training of experts, stocking of different water bodies with fish.

Finally, the center has been re-structured as a research center “Zeway Fisheries Resources Research Center” under Oromia Agricultural Research Institute (OARI/IQQO) in 2001, to perform research on Fisheries and Aquaculture in order to increase fish production and productivity of the region sustainably. The center’s capacity, mission and name have been improving since then (2001 to present). The current, “Batu Fish and other Aquatic Life Research Center” is aiming to develop itself into “Batu Fisheries Research and Training Center” with the required facilities nearly fulfilled, based on the high demand for skill manpower development in fisheries and aquaculture development in the country.

Mission: Increase fish production and productivity on sustainable bases through generate, adapt and transfer appropriate technologies of fisheries and aquaculture in the region.

Vision: To see food secured society and market oriented fishermen and fish farmers in Oromia region.

Research Processes: The center has two core research processes and one team that focus on technology multiplication activities.

1. Livestock Research Process (Fisheries Research Process). This process has two research teams.
   • Capture Fisheries Research Team
   • Aquaculture Research Team
2. Socio-Economics, Agricultural Extension and Gender Research Process. This process has two Research Teams

• Socioeconomic Research Team
• Agricultural Extension Research Team

C. Seed Research and Technology Multiplication Team

Contact address:

• Batu Fishery Research Center, Batu, East Shoa, Oromia
• P. O. Box. 229 Batu
• Bilbila: +251 46 441 2030/34
• Fax: +251 46 441 2942
• Email: aleabebe93@gmail.com