By Shaffie Bakali

Mangochi, May 12, Mana: Senior Chief Lulanga of Mangochi has urged stakeholders in fisheries industry in the country to fully enforce ban on monofilaments use on Lake Malawi saying the fishing malpractice was counterproductive on fisheries in the country.

The Senior Chief made the call during at the end of two-day fisheries stakeholder meeting held in Monkey-Bay, Mangochi which Pact Malawi organized with funding from United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

Pact Malawi through the Restoring Fisheries for Sustainable Livelihood (REFRESH) project brought together traditional leaders, fisheries officers and local fisheries management authorities from Mangochi, Dedza and Nkhotakota.

Lulanga who was among other chiefs from Mangochi namely Mponda, Makanjira and Nankumba said that use of monofilament has become common practice in Mangochi, and further observed that the malpractice endangers existing fish species on Lake Malawi.

“Stakeholders should learn from Tanzania which successfully made disappearance of monofilaments on their lakes. We can also manage by monitoring the importation of gears from Zambia where such illegal gear comes from,” he added.

He however commended coordination by different stakeholders on the ban of some fishing gears on Lake Malawi, saying the move helped to restore species of some endangered fish including chambo.

“For a long time, we have been trained on how to effectively manage fish especially through sanctuaries. This has brought back the chambo in large quantities and is now being sold in our cities such as Blantyre and Lilongwe,” added Lulanga.

In his remarks, REFRESH project, Deputy Chief of Party, Amakhosi Jere described traditional leaders as catalysts for effective enforcement on the ban of the illegal fishing on Lake Malawi.

Jere expressed the project's commitment in dealing with fishing malpractices by engaging the media, fishers, traders that import and sell illegal fishing gears.

He added that formulation of national and district level stakeholder taskforces will be a move in the right direction in dealing with use of illegal fishing gears on the lake

REFRESH project which started in October 2019 is meant to enhance management and conserving fish biodiversity in Lake Malawi.