29 Mar 2016

Fishermen in Chobe have complained about the new fish protection regulations of 2016 that are expected to take effect tomorrow.

In a meeting to update their members on the implementation of the impending regulations, secretary of Chobe Fresh and Dry Fish Association, Mr David Mbanga complained that the new license fees were too steep. 

“We used to pay P200 for a license that ran for three years and under the new regulations, we will be expected to pay P500 for a license that runs just for a year,” he said.

Additionally he added that restrictions on the length of fishing nets was going to cripple their business as they were now required to use a 25-metre fishing net as opposed to their traditional 150-metre net.  

“We will obviously implement these requirements but we are unhappy with them and have requested a meeting with the minister responsible, Mr Tshekedi Khama to table our concerns,” he noted. 

Chairperson of the association, Mr Goliath Chiswaniso opined that these regulations are best suited for lakes and dams with smaller surface areas.  “What also makes this worse is that the river is almost dry and there is hardly any fish left,” he added.

The Fish Protection Regulations, Statutory Instrument No.16 of 2016 have been published in the Government Gazette dated 19^th February and takes effect on April 1 this year. 

A press statement from the Ministry of Environment, Wildlife and Tourism released on February 29^th states that in order to facilitate fishing, the current permits and licenses will be used in the interim up to 31^st March 2016, when they will no longer be accepted. 

“The issuing of new permits and licenses will commence on 1^st April 2016,” the statement reads.

In an interview with regional wildlife director, Mr Balisani Marotsi, he emphasised that the regulations were to allow fish to recover and to be harvested in a sustainable manner. 

He added that consultations were done with communities in 2012 on revision of the then 2008 regulations.  “We are emphasising the use of sustainable methods of fishing through these new regulations,” he said. 

The Minister of Environment, Wildlife and Tourism, Mr Tshekedi Khama was quoted recently as saying that efforts to monitor fish stocks would be stepped up. 

“Utilisation of fish resources presents an opportunity for communities to develop, but I cannot emphasise enough that this must be done in a sustainable manner. 

In this regard efforts to monitor fish stocks will be stepped up,” he said presenting his ministry’s budget estimates for the 2016/17 financial year in Parliament.

On a positive note for the Chobe Fresh and Dry Fish Association, Bio-Chobe project with the support of UNDP will build a cold room for the association as well as buy them camping equipment and bigger fishing boats. 

“The idea is to enable the association to buy fish from individuals then enter into agreements with those willing to buy from the association in bulk,” said Mr Mbanga, the association’s secretary. 

Ablution facilities have also been erected in camping sites to address environmental concerns that had been raised before about the absence of such in fishing sites. Ends