Fish prices rise

FISH prices have gone up in Siavonga due to high demand, as the countrywide ban on fishing activities took effect last weekend.

The Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries imposed a three month ban on all fishing activities from 1st December, 2018 to 28th February next year aimed at improving the fish stocks in Zambian rivers and other water bodies.

However, Government has exempted Lake Kariba from the annual ban owning to the absence of a joint fish ban agreement between Zambia and Zimbabwe on the shared water body.

A check at both Siavonga main market and Kanyelele Harbour found traders selling a kilogramme of fish between K18 and K19 from the previous price of K15 last month.

The traders attributed the price increase to high demand of fish on the market owing to the fish ban. The traders interviewed predicted that the prices of bream fish and tilapia were likely to go up again as old stocks were going down.

And some fishermen spoken to along the lake shores in Mitinangala area said the demand for fish has gone up with others having already paid in advance for their orders.

They said due to low catches, it has been difficult to clear the orders from their customers forcing others to risk their lives by going to Zimbabwe side where fish was still plenty.