Zambia’s annual fishing ban, which lasts for 3 months, starts on 1 December, Minister of Fisheries and Livestock Michael Katambo announced.

This is as calls intensified to extend the annual ban for a longer period to allow for replenishing the fast diminishing fish stocks. “Please abide by the ban as violation will not be tolerated,” Katambo said.

All fishing areas in Zambia – Lake Bangweulu, Mweru-wa-ntipa, Mweru-Luapula, Lukanga Swamps, Lusuwashi, Lower Zambezi and Chambeshi – are closed with the exception of Lake Kariba and Lake Tanganyika, from December 1 to the beginning of March 2018. The ban is put in place to avoid fishing during the breeding season to ensure the replenishing of fish stocks.

The Wildlife and Environmental Conservation Society of Zambia (WECSZ) says the annual ban was not sufficient, and in most cases did not hold to address the over-fishing that had resulted into depleted fish stocks.

Other interest groups, including traditional leaders and industry players, backed the WECSZ’S position urging stakeholders to intensify sensitisation of people living in the proximity of lakes and rivers on the importance of the annual fishing ban.

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