NGO against illegal fishing
Ripple Africa has asked beach village committees in Mangochi District to take prompt action against illegal fishing activities in their areas.
The organisation’s founder Geoff Furber made the call on Monday at Makawa Fishing Site in Senior Chief Mponda in the district after visiting Bolera and Mpemba beach village committees to appreciate how they were monitoring fisheries resources.
After interacting with fishers and traditional leaders, he expressed concern with the continued use of illegal fishing gear in Lake Malawi such as mosquito nets, monofilament and other unregulated materials.
Said Furber: “I have observed worst illegal fishing activities here. Fishers are using mosquito nets and other illegal fishing gears to catch fishes. This is posing a serious threat to tiny fishes, such as usipa or bonya.
“Therefore, let me take advantage of my visit to ask you to step up your efforts by doing everything to deal with the malpractice.”
He said it remains Ripple Africa’s commitment to ensure that fisheries resources are managed well to let fish breed and multiply for sustainable use.
Ripple Africa country director Force Ngwira said despite illegal fishing activities, the project has achieved remarkable strides in replenishing some fish species which were nearing extinction.
Mangochi district fisheries officer Nevarson Msusa hailed the organisation for the project, saying it has taught the beach village committees, traditional leaders and the fishing communities sustainable ways of managing fisheries resources.
On his part, Mponda Sub-Fisheries Association chairperson Jordan Kanyerere thanked Ripple Africa for visiting them.
He pledged to scale up activities to combat irresponsible fishing in the lake.
Ripple Africa is implementing the Fish Conservation Project to empower local communities to sustainably use and manage fisheries resources.
The project is being funded by Lewin Trust of the United Kingdom.
