Communities in Dedza move to protect fish
Fishing communities in Dedza District in collaboration with their traditional leaders have teamed up to formulate by-laws to protect fish in Lake Malawi.
The by-laws, formulated through the Local Fisheries Management Authority, are expected to ban the use of illegal fishing gear, reduce pollution of fishing grounds and checking overfishing.
Speaking on Friday on the sidelines of a consultation meeting with fishers, traditional leaders and Dedza District Council representatives, Restoring Fisheries for Sustainable Livelihoods in Lake Malawi (Refresh) project officer Catherine Kamanga asked said the fishing communities to develop their fisheries management plans
“After developing the management plan, the fishing communities will create fisheries association by-laws based on the Fisheries Act and other regulations,” she said.
Kamanga said by the end of this year, local fisheries management authorities should sign a management agreement with the Director of Fisheries.
Dedza Fisheries Association chairperson Leonard Selevasi welcomed the signing of fisheries management plans and the by-laws, saying for a long time, fishers were not following sustainable ways of fishing.
“Overfishing in Lake Malawi is threatening the livelihoods of fishing communities in the district. The by-laws will protect fish and sustain the fishing industry,” he said.
Dedza district fisheries officer Idah Kandiuze asked communities to adhere to the by-laws to protect fish in the lake.
She said: “There are challenges such as fishing during the breeding season, pollution, habitat loss and effects of climate change which put fish under threat of extinction.
“If we cannot have by-laws, future generations will not have fish resources.”
The consultation to develop fisheries management plan was supported by Restoring Fisheries for Sustainable Livelihoods in Lake Malawi Project, which is funded by USAid and implemented by Pact Malawi in the district..
