Standard Bank - BOL to Wallet

Govt Restocking Fish in Small Water Bodies

Part of  Lunga Dam in Mzuzu Part of Lunga Dam in Mzuzu Photo credit: Steve Zimba.

Government has identified more than one hundred ponds and dams which will be restocked with fish in a move that will see Malawi starting to export the commodity.

Minister of Natural Resources Michael Usi has told us that the development will also ensure a reduction in the prices of fish on the local market.

"The plan is that, as the government is implementing various projects in Lake Malawi to increase fish production, the upland should also have sources of fish for local consumption and the export market.”

Apart from targeting ponds and Dams, government is also considering restocking rivers that have the potential for the fishing business.

On Wednesday this week, government restocked Linga Dam in Nkhatabay with about 200,000 fingerings in a drive to ensure that all the identified small water bodies are being utilized by the fishing industry.

District Commissioner for Nkhatabay Rodgers Newa in whose jurisdiction Linga Dam is located says the local Council will ensure that all the spots to be restocked with fish are protected for sound management.

Said Newa: "The Dam is already under the district council. And, since there is a cooperative union working on the facility, we will ensure that these two parties work together so that activities in this Dam are not compromised."

Meanwhile, statistics show that Malawi produces 10,000 metric tones of fish per year and the government is optimistic that with these initiatives, the figures will increase to 30,000 per year by 2030.

Lunyangwa Aquaculture Center in Mzuzu is one of the fish breeding nurseries in Malawi where the government through the Department of Fisheries distributes fingerlings to fish farmers.

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Last modified on Thursday, 25/01/2024

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