Project drills people to protect fish

Refresh Project has drilled riverine village committees around Bua River in Nkhotakota on how to save fish species in the river.

Speaking on the sidelines of the training on Saturday, Refresh Nkhotakota technician Andrew Salapa said they wanted to empower communities to protect rare fish species in the river.

“We have empowered communities to protect the river and find alternative means to earn a living,” he said.

Salapa said lack of a management plan for riverine village committees resulted in uncontrollable fishing of endangered fish species such as mpasa in the river and Lake Malawi.

A participant, Alexander Chaziya said they learned to make a management plan which will help to enforce by-laws protecting the river.

“We need to protect rare fish species in Bua River which are facing extinction. We want to preserve the fish species for future generations,” he said.

Chaziya also said traditional leaders around the river will engage their subjects to avoid poor farming practices that may lead to siltation of the river due to soil erosion.

Refresh Project promotes sustainable livelihood along Lake Malawi to protect fish resources from extinction.

The five-year project, funded by USAid, is being implemented in Mangochi, Nkhotakota, Dedza, Salima, Nkhata Bay, Rumphi, Karonga and Likoma districts.