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The Namibian Police in the Zambezi region seized a total of 1 238 kilograms of illegally caught fish between 16 October and 5 November this year. Speaking at a media briefing on Thursday, the regional police spokesperson and head of community policing, chief inspector Kisco Sitali, said various types of illegally caught fish species valued at N$92 850 were seized, mostly in the eastern parts of the region and predominantly in the Mutwalwizi area. He said the police conduct these operations jointly with other stakeholders to ensure compliance from people and fishermen undertaking fishing activities along Namibia’s shared rivers, in order to prevent the depletion of fish stocks. Prohibited fishing gear such as shade nets, monofilament nets and mosquito nets were among items confiscated from fishermen. “Some fish stocks have reached extinction stages. Some are no longer available in our rivers, and if this continues, all fish stocks will be depleted,” he cautioned. Sitali noted that the police have observed an influx of foreign nationals, particularly from neighbouring countries, engaging in illegal fishing activities in the Zambezi region. He added that some Namibian nationals have been harbouring these individuals and assisting them in carrying out such illegal activities. “Citizens must refrain from employing or harbouring these criminals so that they do not continue depleting our fish stocks. We applaud our members who undertook these operations and the community who provided the information that helped us reach these areas,” he said. He further urged communities to continue reporting illegal fishing activities in an effort to protect fish stocks. The seized fish will be stored at the regional office of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform pending consultations with regional health inspectors, who will determine whether it is still fit for human consumption. Depending on the outcome, the fish will either be donated to needy communities or destroyed, according to Sitali. Depending on scientific evidence, the fisheries ministry normally issues fishing moratoriums that halt all fishing activities in freshwater bodies to allow fish stocks to recover.
