Promote fish farming, JCTR urges State
ZAMBIA should promote fish farming to avoid dependence on the few existing fisheries as many families are left stranded especially during the ban, Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection (JCTR) has said.
JCTR) social and economic development programme officer Paul Chileshe said the fact that fisheries were limited was reason enough for the country to expand the sector so that those who depended on fishing as a source of income were not affected whenever a fishing ban was effected.
He said already many people who depended on fishing as a source of income to feed and educate their families were affected by the recently announced extension of the fishing ban.
Mr Chileshe said the fish ban would reduce the supply of fish on the market which in turn would most likely to trigger price increase in the cost of fish the cost of living.
Mr Chileshe said JCTR was of the view that stringent measures should be put in place during the fishing ban to prevent future cholera outbreaks in the fishing regions so that extensions could be avoided.
The Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock has extended the fishing ban from March 1 to April 30 2018 as a preventive measure against the cholera outbreak in the country in accordance with the provisions of section 14 of the fisheries act cap 22 of 2011.
However, the JCTR acknowledged the extension of the fish ban as a measure taken to eradicate cholera, but said stressed that the ban would affect the cost of fish products.
He further urged the government to support fishermen by imparting them with entrepreneurial knowledge and skills to help eradicate high poverty levels especially in fishing regions.
“Once fish farming is promoted, it will lessen dependency on the major fisheries.”
And according to the February 2018 JCTR Basic Needs Basket (BNB) for a family of five living in Lusaka stood at K5, 385 which was K156 more than the January BNB which stood at K5, 229, due to an increase in Kapenta prices, following the fish ban.
The most significant price increase was noted in kapenta which increased by K38 from K179 in January to K217 in February for 1kg of Kapenta, as it was scarce and on high demand on the market.