Katima Mulilo
Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources Bernhard Esau has announced a closed fishing season in the Zambezi Region effective from December 1, 2015 to the end of February this year. Recreational angling is, however, not prohibited.
In announcing the closure Esau noted that the decision was not sudden as thorough consultations were held with stakeholders to ensure the sustainability of fishery resources.
“As you might be aware the process to implement the closed fishing season is in alignment with our neighbours Zambia and Botswana and it started a long time ago. Our visits to the region, in consultation with the governor, regional council and the four traditional authorities and other stakeholders, attest to our commitment”, Esau said.
He further explained that the period from November to February is breeding season for many fish stocks, hence the need to curtail fishing activities at this time.
“The closed fishing season is the way to go to protect the inland fisheries stocks of the Zambezi/Chobe system during the breeding season from November to February.
He further urged residents of Zambezi Region to embrace the decision, adding that it is to their benefit, as it would improve catches once the moratorium is lifted.
“This is to ensure that our inland fisheries stocks are given ample time during the breeding season to recover and to multiply and feed our rural communities. The fish will be allowed to grow and this will ensure improved catches once the area is opened again”, Esau told stakeholders that included traditional authority representatives.
Two new fisheries reserves
Apart from the suspension of fishing activities, Esau further declared the Sikunga and Kasaya channels as fisheries reserves. Sikunga and Kasaya channels are managed by the two conservancies of Sikunga and Impalila respectively.
“Following consultation, it is my pleasure to announce that Zambezi river system has been declared as a fisheries reserve as from the first of December 2015 until end of February 2016”, announced Esau.
With overfishing increasingly becoming a concern due to unsustainable methods of fishing, the proclamation of the two river channels of Sikunga and Kasaya as reserves would ultimately help curb the scourge.
The two conservancies of Sikunga and Impalila patrol and monitor illegal fishing activities in their river channels. Apart from wildlife conservancies these are the only conservancies that piloted community conservation fisheries projects, in an attempt to manage fish resources in the region.
Prices of freshwater fish – a delicacy in the Zambezi at the Katima Mulilo market – soared following the announcement. Fish prices that normally range between N$15 and N$20 shot up to about N$30 and N$35.