16 Mar 2016

Although the fishing season has commenced on March 1 this year, Lake Ngami would remain closed for fishing until further notice, the Wildlife regional coordinator Mr Timothy Blackbeard has said. 

Speaking in an interview on Monday, Mr Blackbeard said fishing at Lake Ngami would not recommence until further notice since the Lake Ngami Conservation Trust which has been mandated to control fishing was wrapping up crucial matters prior to operation. Mr Blackbeard said the Trust was held up by the Environmental Management Plan (EMP) which was yet to be finalised among other things. 

However, in an interview, the Lake Ngami Conservation Trust chairperson Mr Frisco Gabokakangwe said the Trust was ready to recommence operation, saying there was no reason for Lake Ngami to be closed during this fishing season. Mr Gabokakangwe therefore said the Trust has written a letter to the Minister of Environment, Wildlife and Tourism requesting that fishing at Lake Ngami resume during the current fishing season. 

He pointed out that there was a consensus to speed up possibility for the Lake Ngami Conservation to start operation. 

Mr Gabokakangwe therefore said an EMP which takes a month was opted for to be carried out on behalf of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) which takes six months. 

Furthermore, Mr Gabokakangwe said the Trust was ready to operate and to put in place temporary measures such as ablutions and rubbish containers which would address the environmental concerns that were part of the reasons for fishing suspension. 

He pointed out that the Trust has already employed staff members for all necessary posts this month and that the officers were likely to report for duty on April 1. 

The Trust has also received about P4 million from the Office of the President which has helped to acquire office equipment and vehicles for transportation, he said. 

Fishing at Lake Ngami was suspended in the 2015 fishing season following concerns of environmental issues such as littering and other criminal activities in the villages that surrounds the lake. ENDS