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Zimbabwe: Fish Poaching On the Increase in Binga
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The Zimbabwe Guardian (London)
30 April 2008
Posted to the web 1 May 2008
Dyke Sithole
RAMPANT fish poaching has taken root on the Binga shores of the mighty Zambezi River as people from as far as Bulawayo buy the fish for re-sale in cities.
When the Zimbabwe Guardian visited the area this week, fishermen from the Mlibizi area and some from across the river in Zambia could be found from the wee hours of the morning till sunset along the Zambezi River exploring the deep waters for catches.
They risk attacks by hippos and crocodiles in the river.
The poachers are assured of a ready market for the different types of fish -- including breams, kapenta, bottlefish and tigerfish.
Scores of people from Bulawayo have besieged the area to buy fish for ZW$50 million per kilogram -- a price they more than tremble when re-selling.
A popular Bulawayo fishmonger, Jane Rambu said fish business is brisk during this time when the majority of the population cannot afford the price of beef.
"Fish meat is selling like hot cake in Bulawayo. Right now I have orders from hotels, schools and individuals. My problem is transport. Transport here is a big problem," she said.
As The Zimbabwe Guardian discovered, most of the buyers make a lot of money fselling fish and can even afford to book into expensive lodges scattered along the river, awaiting cargo.
Binga Rural District Councillor, Titus Moyo acknowledged the prevalence of fish poaching and said it was difficult to monitor and prevent it as some of the poachers were foreigners.
"Poaching by foreigners is very prevalent, especially during holidays. It is very difficult to monitor the poachers because there is a ready market for the fish. If you go to the river right now, you will see lots of people who want to buy the fish," said Moyo.
Moyo suggested that the council should form fishermen's cooperatives which, he said, would go a long way in containing the illegal exercise as they would protect the affected areas.
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There is about 300 gill netting units in Binga and 195 individual fishermen licensed by the council to carry out fishing activities.
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