By Innocent Chunga

Nkhotakota, May 29, Mana: Pact Malawi, through Restoring Fisheries for Sustainable Livelihoods in Lake Malawi (REFRESH) project on Tuesday launched the boat-marking and registration exercise at Ngala Fish Landing Site in the area of Senior Chief Kanyenda in Nkhotakota district.

Speaking at the event, Director of Fisheries Dr. Hastings Zidana said the boats that operate on the water bodies across the country, will be registered and marked for easy identification a development which he said is expected to help in dealing with barbaric behaviors including illegal fishing activities.

Zidana said the development will go a long way in conserving unique fish species in sanctuaries on Lake Malawi and rivers, as boats will be easily identified using the colors representing their district of origin.

"We have targeted to register 60,000 boats across the country and the exercise will assist us in giving penalties to those breaching Acts,” said Zidana.

He said the Marine Department is also part of the exercise and therefore expects that this will assist with the control of illegal importation of goods on the lake as well.

Pact Malawi-REFRESH Chief of Party, Daniel Jamu said the exercise will assist in ownership of the boats in terms of licensing, observing that by-laws for both marine through inland shipping and Waters, as well as Fisheries Management and Conservation Acts, provides that boats must be registered and licensed.

"We hope the exercise will address the challenges on the lake because this has never been done before. Our local structures as Beach Village Committees are involved to ensure the exercise's successful implementation," said Jamu.

Hassan Phiri, who represented Chairperson for Nkhotakota District Fisheries Association (FA) said they have committed to assist both parties in addressing challenges in water bodies in the district and across the country.

With financial support from Pact Malawi, officials from the fisheries department, marine, Pact, Rumphi, Karonga, Likoma, Nkhotakota, Salima, Dedza, and Mangochi district councils, Chiefs, Beach Village Committees and partners for Pact Malawi attended the event.

The boat marking exercise will be undertaken in partnership with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Climate Change through the Department of Fisheries and Marine, according to Zidana.