03 Apr 2016

Fishermen in Maun were given permission to use their valid licenses until the end of this month.

The announcement was made by the regional wildlife coordinator, Mr Timothy Blackbeard before fishermen who had thronged the offices of the department on Friday. 

The fishermen had thronged the wildlife department to apply for new fishing licenses as the existing ones had expired according to the new fishing regulations.

They also wanted clarity regarding some of their licenses which were supposed to end in 2017.

The new fishing regulations, gazetted on February 19, nullified all fishing licences and permits by March 31. A correspondence from the ministry stated that the issuing and renewing of new licenses would be on April 1. 

Addressing the fishermen, Mr Blackbeard said valid fishing licences would be valid until end of April, pointing out that the temporary extension did not apply to Lake Ngami and Lake Xau which remain out of bounds until the trust was ready for operation. 

He encouraged the fishermen to apply for new licenses between now and end of April.

Earlier on, the Lake Ngami Fishers Association chairperson, Mr Loago Mokunki encouraged the fishermen to continue fishing with their valid licenses in the stipulated areas, saying the department had told the association that they were still finalising some aspects of the new regulations before they could be implemented.

He said the parties agreed that fishermen could continue fishing with their old licenses until the department informed them about the developments.

Regarding the new fishing regulations, Mr Mokunki said he was worried that they posed many challenges for fishermen, saying the 25 metre net under the new regulations was bad for business compared to the 150 metres they usually use.

He said the small number of people that would be allowed per quota at Lake Ngami was also a disadvantage for the fishermen.

Although the association leader commended the government for awarding Lake Ngami Fishing Management Trust funds to aid operations, he complained that the trust and the department of wildlife had delayed in finalising crucial matters; hence the new fishing season has beaten them. 

However, in an interview, Mr Blackbeard said the suspension of fishing at Lake Ngami was lawful and would remain until further notice. He said it would be available in the government gazette soon, contrary to Mr Mokunki’s views that the suspension extension was unlawful. Ends