Almost 1,000 kilogramme fish seized in Kafue district
Kafue District Commissioner, Maurice Hikapulwe
By Margaret Chirwa
THE Department of Fisheries in Kafue district in Lusaka province has confiscated approximately 1,000 kilogrammes of assorted fish species, including fingerlings. The fish was being transported from the Chanyanya area to Lusaka.
Kafue District Commissioner, Maurice Hikapulwe, said the Department of Fisheries, in the company of the Zambia police, seized the fish together with the minibus registration number ABB 9989 that was used to ferry fish to Lusaka.
Mr. Hikapulwe disclosed that the bus was driven by Obvious Shikapaya, who was apprehended and put in police cells. He said the bus was impounded at Lusaka city market, where the fish was to be sold.
“The fisheries department also destroyed 300,000 metres of illegal fishing nets and two boats that were confiscated and will be auctioned,” Mr. Hikapulwe added.
Mr. Hikapulwe warned the fish traders to heed the law by avoiding fishing during the ban period to allow the fish to breed. “The confiscated fish species consisted of bigger fish that were mostly in the breeding stage and fingerlings,” Mr. Hikapulwe said.
Meanwhile, Fisheries and Livestock Coordinator, Perfecto Kabanshi, said the team had just done a third of the fishing ban exercise.
“Apart from the 1,000 kg that was seized, there was another 280 kg of fresh fish and 15 kg of dry fish found with some marketers from Lusaka,” Dr. Kabanshi narrated.
Dr. Kabanshi said the department uses the regulations of the Fisheries Act, No. 22 of 2011, to ensure that the fish in the river are conserved.
The two women have since been arrested and are in police custody, waiting for court proceedings.
During the annual fishing ban period, all fishing activities on major natural water bodies are prohibited to allow fish to breed. The government enforces strict penalties for non-compliance including, fines, imprisonment, and confiscation of fish and gear. –NAIS
The confiscated fish by the department of fisheries during the fishing ban
Confiscated fish in Kafue in display.
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