Fishing is a major economic activity in Niger, directly or indirectly affecting more than 50,000 people. The country has a wide variety of fish, with more than 112 species listed, and fish production has increased in recent years, reaching 50,000 tonnes in 2023. Fishing activities are developed in Lake Chad (in the Diffa region), the river valley and numerous water points. Nowadays, with the problem of insecurity (in the river valley and Diffa) and other challenges such as the effects of climate change (silting up of water points and colonisation of water bodies by invasive plants), this sector is experiencing difficulties at all levels: production, conservation, processing and marketing of fish products.
With a view to creating favourable conditions for the sustainable exploitation of fisheries resources to help combat food and nutritional insecurity and improve incomes in rural areas, the PRSA Niger, through the Fisheries and Aquaculture Directorate (DPA) of the Ministry of Hydraulics, Sanitation, the Environment and the Fight against Desertification, has stocked the Tcherassa pond in the commune of Konni in the Tahoua region.
This activity, which aims to boost fisheries productivity, is part of an effort to improve the nutrition of the population, particularly children, and also to increase the income of fishermen, fishmongers and other players in the industry by introducing species with a high market value. The stocking operation is followed by a six (6) month closed season to allow the fish to reproduce and adapt to the environment of the introduced fish.
On 14 April 2025, the authorities reopened the stocked pond, much to the delight of the local population.
It is important to note that 9 surrounding villages in the commune of Tcherassa benefit from the products of fishing in the pond, i.e. more than 10,000 direct and indirect beneficiaries, and measures have been taken to ensure surveillance of the stocked pond and thus combat any illegal fishing with a view to concerted management of the pond's resources.
