Mangochi fishers vow to conserve environment

Fishers at Msaka Beach in Mangochi have embarked on environmental conservation campaign to counter the impact of deforestation on the fish industry.

Group Village Head Chimphamba whose area in Traditional Authority Nankumba covers the beach, said the fishers and the community have collaborated to replant trees and start using fuel-saving ovens for drying the fish.

The chief said this during the visit of the Association of Environmental Journalists (AEJ) to the beach, which was part of a three-day training last week funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USaid).

He said: “The wanton cutting down of trees in the nearby hill has contributed to siltation in the lake here. This has resulted in low fish harvest because the breeding process is affected when fish eggs are buried by the sand which is washed from upland.

Deputy director of fisheries in the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development, Steve Donda, praised Msaka Beach residents and fishers for their commitment to conserving the environment.

AEJ president Matthews Malata said the association will continue to work with the Msaka fishing community to ensure that they take care of the surrounding environment to deal with climate change effects. n