Fisheries inspectors in Kavango under fire

Fisheries inspectors have come under heavy criticism for allegedly failing to tackle illegal and damaging fishing methods along the Okavango River. The situation is said to have reached critical levels and has led to a notable decline in fish stocks.
A letter addressed to the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources last year by members of the Kavango Open Africa Route (KOAR) complained to the ministry that the Okavango River is undergoing a serious decline in fish stocks due to an increase in illegal fishing practices. The group also complained about the destructive method of dragnetting, which they claim has increased since the legalisation of 100 metre nets, and large scale commercial fishing operations involving Namibians and Angolans.
Dragnetting is when fishermen use their canoes to drag fishing nets behind them.
This can lead to fishermen catching all sizes of fish and thus wiping out breeding grounds.

Blame game
The letter to the ministry noted that a lack of resources is consistently blamed by law enforcement officials, particularly fishing inspectors who are tasked with overseeing relevant issues, including handing out fines. “They have complained about a lack of transport, fuel, boats, staff, finance, the lack of cooperation from the Angolans and a whole host of other excuses and generally leave reported cases unresolved,” the group said.
The letter, signed by KOAR chairperson Mark Paxton, highlighted the main concern, namely that “it has become more and more evident that the fisheries inspectors in this region are no longer interested in law enforcement and use any excuse to evade their responsibilities as law enforcement officials.”
In another letter to the ministry, fisheries inspectors stand accused of being part of the problem and not the solution as expected of them.
According to Paxton, while police in the region face similar resource challenges, a number of senior police officials have stepped in and offered support and regularly assist by carrying out joint operations with their Angolan counterparts.
On Friday last week, another joint patrol, during which Paxton provided a boat and a vehicle, led to the confiscation of 40 illegal dragnets in addition to the apprehension of approximately 12 illegally operating fishermen.
While the operation did not lead to any fines or arrests, Paxton praised the cooperation of Nampol and the Angolan police, noting their professionalism and efficiency. Nevertheless, the alleged lack of cooperation from fisheries inspectors continues to threaten any small successes achieved by patrols and other efforts, he pointed out.
In one of a series of letters sent last year the ministry was informed that subsistence fishermen generally used nets 15 to 20 metres in length, but new legislation made way for 100 metre nets to be deployed.
“This has encouraged the highly detrimental and illegal practice of dragnetting.
Large dragnetting groups now operate mostly at night to avoid detection and a total lack of effective law enforcement from fisheries inspectors has allowed commercially operated dragnetting groups on both sides of the river to flourish and eradicate fish stocks in large sections of the river.” Last year, the ministry responded to one of the KOAR letters, noting it had raised serious concerns, which would be addressed urgently.
No further correspondence was received.

Local farmers hard hit
While the destructive impact of dragnetting and other illegal practices along the river is of concern to the tourism industry, which is the largest private sector employer in communal areas of Namibia, many say the worst hit will be subsistence farmers who depend on the river for their livelihoods.
“The fish harvests from the Okavango River provide critical and essential livelihoods to the subsistence fishing community who often depend on the river for their survival.
Many of these communities have no alternative means to provide for their families, and are mostly compliant with the fishing regulations,” Charlie Paxton, Chairperson of the Okavango River Basin Water Commission (OKACOM) added.
He noted that the legal fishing community will “suffer most when their fisheries are dominated by those who relentlessly, illegally exploit and abuse the resource with no consideration given to sustainability and the ecological health of the river.”
The Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources were contacted for comment but were unable to respond by the time of going to press.

JANA-MARI SMITH