By Innocent Chunga
Nkhotakota, April 20, Mana: Ripple Africa and Nkhotakota District Council through the Department of Fisheries have burned illegal fishing gear that was confiscated in all beaches of Lake Malawi valued at 800 million Kwacha in the district.
Country Director for Ripple Africa Force Ngwira said through various projects they are implementing in the district, the organisation has managed to confiscate about 900 illegal fishing gear in collaboration with the district council, law enforcers, Fisheries Association (FA), and Village Beach Committees (VBCs) in all traditional authorities in the district.
Ngwira made the remarks on Friday during the burning process of the illegal fishing nets, monofilaments, and mosquito nets that were confiscated between 2017 to 2023 at Mtaya area in the area of Traditional Authority Malengachanzi.
He said an organisation they put in place measures to restore fisheries in Lake Malawi to make sure that fishers are using legal fishing gear through the fish for tomorrow's projects.
"We have a task force at district level which is responsible for checking all gears that are sold at the shops, instead of people using monofilaments which are damaging the lake, people are now selling multifilament which is recommended by the government," said Ngwira.
Vice Chairperson for Nkhotakota District Council, Fitoni Khofi said the council has set alternative livelihoods for the people living along the lake by considering them into various government programmes to avoid the issues of illegal fishing that are fueling illegal fishing gears in the district.
Chairperson for the Fisheries Association in the district Allie Maulidi said the association and Village Beaches Committees have committed to continue assisting the government and Ripple Africa in promoting legal fishing gears but have since called for more support.
With support from Ripple Africa, officials from Nkhotakota District Council, Magistrate Court, Nkhotakota Police Station, Traditional Authorities, Fisheries Association, Village Beaches Committees, and the media attended the event.
