Likoma District Fisheries Office has expressed optimism that the district will end the use of monofilament fishing nets despite financial challenges hampering law enforcement on Lake Malawi.
Speaking in an interview on Friday, Likoma district fisheries officer Lonjezo Chikopa said the department is working with traditional leaders and other stakeholders to ensure compliance with the 2019 government ban on the nets, which are harmful to aquatic life.
“As a fisheries office, we involve stakeholders because policy now encourages participatory fisheries management,” he said.
Chikopa acknowledged that the continued use of monofilament nets threatens fish stocks in Lake Malawi, but said inadequate funding has made it difficult for the office to conduct regular patrols to enforce the law.
“Due to lack of funding, we are unable to conduct water patrols to ensure that people who are not complying face the consequences,” he said.
Chikopa said the council is mobilising resources to resume patrols while continuing to engage communities on the dangers of using monofilament nets and the importance of protecting the lake’s fish population.
Likoma Fisheries Association chairperson Martin Mjima admitted that awareness of the ban has been slow, but pledged to work with the fisheries office.
“Government banned monofilament nets in 2019, but it took us time because the message reached us around 2023,” he said.
Mjima said enforcement will require financial support, particularly to ensure the presence of law enforcers during operations to prevent resistance from fishers
