Discovery of Japanese gengorobuna Carassius cuvieri Temminck & Schlegel, 1846 in Ethiopia: implications for fisheries governance

Inland fisheries play a critical role in sustaining livelihoods and ensuring food security worldwide.Accurate fish species identification is vital for effective fish stock management and offers insights into ecosystem functioning.A study was conducted in January 2022 to validate the species of fish previously identified in the literature as Carassius carassius, purportedly present in Lake Ziway, Ethiopia.Ten individuals of the genus Carassius were collected from local fishermen, and morphological and genetic analyses, including CT scanning and mitochondrial gene sequencing, were performed to identify the established Carassius species in the lake.Our findings confirm the presence of Carassius cuvieri, a species endemic to Lake Biwa, Japan, within Lake Ziway, Ethiopia.Further investigations are needed to confirm the possible presence of other Carassius species previously reported in the region, enhancing fisheries management strategies.These fish species significantly contribute to inland fisheries in Ethiopia, emphasising the importance of their accurate identification and management.