Ripple Africa has lauded the Nkhata Bay Fisheries Department and local village beach committees for their assertive stance against illegal fishing practices in the district. This commendation follows a successful joint operation that saw the confiscation of a significant cache of illegal fishing gear, underscoring a concerted effort to promote sustainable resource management.
Last Thursday, a routine patrol on Lake Malawi conducted by the department, in collaboration with community committees and the police, resulted in the seizure of 400 illegal fishing nets, a boat engine, and a fuel tank from fishers at Kande. This decisive action highlights the growing commitment to enforcing fisheries regulations.
Sam Manda, Senior Projects Officer at Ripple Africa, emphasized the organization’s dedication to improving regulatory compliance through its “Fish for Tomorrow” project. “Our project seeks to address many challenges, including the use of illegal fishing gear. We feel this is the way to go,” Manda stated. He further added that community engagement in confiscating illegal gear is a significant positive for their initiative, anticipating it will “bring sanity to the natural resources conservation initiative.”
Manda also noted that the decline in fish stocks is directly linked to non-compliance with fishing regulations, reinforcing the urgent need for conservation. He affirmed Ripple Africa’s commitment to intensifying community sensitization efforts and bolstering regulatory enforcement along the lakeshore.
Dellings Kamenya, Nkhata Bay District Principal Fisheries Officer, reiterated the department’s resolve to continue collaborating with village beach committees to ensure fisher compliance. “We plead with the fishing community to follow rules and regulations to conserve fisheries resources,” Kamenya urged.
Kida Mkandawire, Chairperson of the Sub-Fisheries Association committee from Traditional Authority Malanda, affirmed the community’s obligation to ensure the sustainable use of fisheries resources. “We will continue working with the Fisheries Department to intensify patrols to ensure that many people understand the need to conserve fisheries resources,” Mkandawire stated, highlighting a unified approach to protecting this vital natural asset.
