People laud sustainable fishing interventions
Fishing communities in Nkhata Bay District have commended Pact Malawi for implementing sustainable fishing interventions aimed at preserving fish species in Lake Malawi and rivers.
Speaking in an interview yesterday, Lyson Kaunda, 39, a fisher from Traditional Authority M’bwana, said it was important for people to follow sustainable fishing regulations as advocated by the Fisheries Department.
He thanked Pact Malawi for implementing Restoring Fisheries for Sustainable Livelihoods in Lake Malawi (Reflesh) project which is creating awareness among fisher communities on the importance of using legal fish gear for catching fish.
Said Kaunda: “It is good to use legal gears for fishing and adhere to the advice from the Fisheries Department so that our fish is preserved in our lake.
“I started my business in the lake when I was 11 years old and if our parents were employing illegal fishing ways by now we would not find the fish we are enjoying.”
Speaking on Thursday during a stakeholders meeting on fisheries management, rules and regulations, Nkhata Bay district assistant fisheries officer Evance Mataka also commended Pact Malawi for taking a leading role in protecting endangered fish species in Lake Malawi.
“Without the involvement of other stakeholders, we cannot protect the endangered fish species in the lake,” he said.
Nkhata Bay Reflesh technician Anthony Ghambi said most fishers in the district use illegal equipment such as monofilament for catching fish.
“The Fisheries Department alone cannot eliminate the illegal fishing gear. This is why together with other law-enforcement agents we remind each other about the laws,” he said.
One of the participants, Charles Tembo, who is also head of Criminal Investigation Department at Nkhata Bay Police Station, said they learned new measures of protecting fish in Lake Malawi.
