🇳🇦NamibiaSouthern Africa
Zambezi bream under threat from illegal fishing activities
via The Namibian2 min read
Commercial illegal fishing in the Zambezi River is threatening the tilapia fish species, known locally as Zambezi bream. Tjirongo Kauaria, spokesperson for the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, and Land Reform, stated that these activities affect the entire river system, including Chobe, Kwando, Kavango, and Cuvelai. Residents are reportedly using banned monofilament gill nets and other unregulated methods, leading to overfishing. This practice also extends into national parks where fishing is prohibited, causing Zambezi bream to become scarce in local markets. During the previous financial year, fisheries inspectors in the Zambezi region confiscated 1,143 illegal fishing gear items during 429 daily patrols. Between January and May this year, 358 illegal fishing nets were seized, with an increase in confiscations during April and May attributed to the flood season. Authorities also confiscated 448.7kg of mixed dried and salted fish during this period. Kauaria noted that a limited number of inspectors and the remote locations targeted by illegal fishers make control difficult. To address the issue, 19 community-managed fisheries reserves covering over 2,500 hectares were established between 2016 and 2022, with seven more planned for this year, expanding the managed area to 32,500 hectares. However, challenges arise when community members circumvent regulations. Impalila Island community activist Papiro Sikanda stated that fishermen use banned nets because legally acce
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by The Namibian.
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