PMRC commends fishing ban extension, reveals that 37 cases of cholera outbreak were recorded in fishing camps | WestMac Media

By Staff Writer, Lusaka 

Policy Monitoring Research Centre (PMRC) has commended Government for extending the fishing ban period. 

In a statement, PMRC executive director Bernadette Deka says a historical analysis reveals that fishing camps are prone to the Cholera outbreaks and cases of the epidemic have been recorded there over the years. 

She says in 2018 alone 37 cases have been recorded in Chiyasa, Mutima, Longo, Shamabula and Lumuni camps, these are all fishing camps in Shibuyunji District in the Central Province. 

Ms Deka says these camps have contributed the to recurring cases of Cholera that were on the decline through Government’s intervention. 

“Most of the fishing camps are characterized by the identified Cholera Risk factors which are contaminated water sources; poor sanitation; contaminated food; poor solid waste management and poor personal hygiene,” she explains. 

She further says fishing remains an important part of the livelihoods of the many Zambians and contributes almost 1% to Zambia’s GDP. 

“However, currently 103 million Kwacha has been spent on the fight against the Cholera epidemic, this is a significant amount of money that reveals the cost of the epidemic and highlight the need to put in place preventive measures. Hence, preventative measures such as the extension of the fishing ban are timely and must be adhered to by all fishermen and those involved in the fish trade. Further, all citizens are reminded to continue to take precautionary measures against the epidemic such as ensuring drinking water is clean and safe, to maintain high personal hygiene and improve solid waste management amongst other precautionary measures,” says Ms Deka. 

Meanwhile, in February 2018, the Government of the Republic of Zambia through the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock announced the extension of the Annual Fishing Ban which was due to end on March 1st 2018. 

The extension entails that the Fish Ban will now end on the 30th of April 2018. The Ministry through the Fisheries Act is mandated to impose a Fishing Ban; which is implemented annually from 1st December to 1st March the following year, to allow for the fish to breed thereby regulating the fish population in the water bodies. 

The Annual Fishing Ban was introduced to protect the breeding of the commercially preferred species such as Tilapia species, whose breeding peaks is in this period under which the ban is imposed. 

This year the extension of the Fishing Ban has been as a result of the Cholera Outbreak which was declared on 6th October 2017 and as of 4th March, 2018 ,4,497 cases have been recorded nationwide while 89 lives have been claimed. 

Fishing is mostly a seasonal activity and the activities are concentrated around the Zambia’s vast water bodies. As a result, fishermen usually travel to these water bodies and set up temporal homesteads referred to as fishing camps. Despite the availability of legally established fishing camps, illegal fishing camps have mushroomed near water bodies; these camps are characterised by poor sanitary conditions.  

The risks of Cholera spreading are further enhanced by the fact that the fishermen from all over the country with some coming from Cholera prone areas. 

Further these fishermen are in constant contact with fish traders who travel from all over the country further increasing the risk of spreading the epidemic.