Namibia’s Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources has dismissed reports claiming that a moratorium has been placed on freshwater fishing in the Caprivi Region.
The majority of households in the region depend on fresh and dried fish as a cheaper source of protein. According to the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources, the shortage of fish in the region is due to the off-peak season.
Residents are unhappy over the shortage of freshwater fish, which has driven up prices.
Some fish traders at the Katima Mulilo Open Market alleged the fisheries ministry has banned and confiscated fishing nets at Lake Liambezi, one of the major sources of fish for Katima Mulilo residents. Small fish that normally sold for less than five dollars now sell for more than double that amount which has led to a major fish supply deficit in households.
“We are charging these prices because people who supply us with fish have also increased their prices and we have to make a profit. We have heard that the fisheries ministry has banned fishing at Lake Liambezi,” complained one fish trader at the Katima Mulilo Open Market.
Senior Fisheries Research Technician in the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Morgan Saisai, however dismissed the claims saying the shortage of freshwater fish could be attributed to seasonal changes and sensitisation meetings with locals.
“There’s no closed season on fishing. Maybe what is causing the shortage of fish are seasonal changes. The ministerial operation of confiscating fishing nets of those contravening the law was never conducted this year. All that we have done together with the police and immigration was to hold sensitisation meetings about a month ago with the communities and discouraged them from engaging illegal fishermen from other countries in our rivers,” explained Saisai.
He was referring to the practice by some villagers who employ illegal immigrants as fishermen, which has caused an uproar in the region. According to Saisai, during the sensitisation meetings, the community seemed to grasp what the law requires and understood that they should protect their natural heritage, including the abundant freshwater fish resources.
“From the meetings that we have had with the communities, they now seem to understand how our resources should be protected. No nationals from outside Namibia should come and engage in fishing activities without permission to do so. When they enter Namibia as visitors, they should not engage in fishing activities since doing so is illegal,” Saisai warned about the illegal practice.
Saisai further said fishing is open to any national provided they have a fishing permit and do not contravene the law by engaging in unscrupulous activities such as drag netting. He maintained that engaging in such illegal activities would culminate in punishment.
Lake Liambezi has in the past been the target of joint police and fisheries operations meant to root out foreign illegal fishermen who had in the past descended on the lake to cash in on the lucrative fish business.
The Caprivi Region is popular for its bream and its high supply of the popular freshwater fish but when New Era visited the Katima Mulilo Open Market last Thursday, there were only a handful of fish traders selling the fish.
Many residents in the region eke out a living from catching and selling fish. Freshwater fish consumption, especially of tilapia and catfish surpass that of beef largely because of its nutritional value, availability and affordability.
2013 New Era