llegal fishing lands three in trouble with the law at Oshakati

he Oshana regional police have arrested one person and fined two others for illegally fishing catfish in the sewage pond behind the Namibian Defence Force (NDF) base in Oshakati.The regional police commander, Naftal Lungameni Sakaria, said the case involves a 55-year-old man charged with engaging in illegal fishing activities. Sakaria said the man faces legal action under the Inland Fisheries Resources Act No. 1 of 2003, which regulates the sustainable use of Namibia’s inland water resources.The other two individuals, aged 41 and 39, were fined for related offences. The 41-year-old was fined for using a fishing net that failed to meet the required mesh size standards as prescribed by law, while the 39-year-old received a fine for using a dragnet.Although seasonal fishing occurs in the Oshanas, one needs a licence from the fisheries ministry.Health hazardSakaria said fishing in the ponds poses a serious health hazard to consumers, and the police say they will not tolerate the activity.“This is like selling poison to someone. You take their money and you kill them. No! It will not be tolerated. We will have constant patrols in those areas to assist the ministry. We already have an indication of cholera outbreaks in some parts of the country and now we have these people trying to sell contaminated fish,” Sakaria fumed. He issued a stern warning to anyone planning to catch the catfish, stating that they would be arrested. “As authorities we have reiterated our commitment to enforcing fishing regulations, particularly from the contaminated sewer ponds,” Sakaria said. He urged the public to familiarise themselves with fishing laws to avoid legal consequences.Cutting sewer ponds open Oshakati town mayor Leonard Hango said the ponds are fully fenced with mesh wire, but those involved in illegal fishing cut it open to gain access. Hango said in addition to cutting down the fence, they also break the boundaries of the embankment to place their nets. “This is highly contaminated water as it comes from all types of industrial areas. That fish is not healthy for consumption. Borrowing or damaging the embankment of the ponds is considered destroying property. "They are also causing a health hazard to the environment as the sewer water may mix with the water from the Oshanas leading to cholera disease. We will arrest them,” he said. Hango added that they have had meetings with the members of the communities in the Shimbangu area of Oshakati and Okaku Kiipupu village, as well as neighbouring towns, explaining the health hazard; yet, people refuse to comply. He said the suspects catch the fish and sell them on the road to Okahao and along the Endola road, with some of their customers believing the fish are from clan water, but they are not. “They must make clean money not with fish from ponds. I appreciate the effort of the Namibian police and we will continue working to ensure that these practise stops,” Hango said.

llegal fishing lands three in trouble with the law at Oshakati

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Namibian Sun 2025-08-05

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llegal fishing lands three in trouble with the law at Oshakati

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Namibian Sun 2025-08-05

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