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Agriculture Specialist Writer
THE Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) has reduced fees for kapenta fishing permits from US$1 200 per rig per year to US$1 000 as a conservation support extended to operators only for 2025.
In a notice to kapenta operators on Lake Kariba recently, ZimParks director general Dr Fulton Mangwanya said Government took this temporary measure to alleviate fishermen’s plight of low catches caused by declining water levels.
“Kapenta fishing fees will be discounted to US$1 000 per rig only for the year 2025. Take note that this is not a reduction in tariff but a conservation support extended to operators only for the year 2025,” he said.
This announcement comes as a relief to operators who are set to renew their 2025 fishing licences from January 13 to 24.
ZimParks also will grant payment plans for 2024 arrears but these will not extend beyond August 2025 while payment plans for 2025 fees will be handled on a case-by-case basis.
Zimbabwe Kapenta Producers Association (ZKPA) chairman, Mr Chatwell Tanga commended the move but said they had wanted a further downward review in view of the increasing cost of production against declining catches.
“In view of the decline in incomes due to the drop in kapenta catches, a fee of US$800 would have been ideal,” the ZKPA chair said.
ZKPA vice chairman Mr Bernard Munsaka appreciated ZimParks’ move but expressed concern over the delayed reaction to their request for basin sharing for 1, 2 and 3 permit holders.
“We welcome the fee reduction, but are worried about the high number of permit 3 license holders whose rigs have been impounded and fined US$2 000.
“From September last year to date, nearly 50 percent of rigs mainly from basin 3 were impounded for fishing in basin 2 or in depths below 20 metres,” he said.
Most rigs fishing in basins 1, 2 and 3 that get their inputs, spares, maintenance and various services at full moon period are moored in Binga.
“It is in view of the central location of Binga that fishermen want one bigger Binga basin encompassing all the three permit holders. The rigs are being fined when they fish in basin 2 en route to basin 3 after coming to Binga to get services such as fuel,” he added
Following the closure of basin 1 to fishing due to a drop in water levels, basin 1 and 2 operators are allowed to fish in basin three but basin 3 operators cannot fish in basin 2.
Late last year, ZimParks also temporarily reduced the minimum allowable fishing depth from 20 metres to 17 for four months (from November 1 and February 28) to monitor the catch quality (size of kapenta) from the industry.
This comes as water levels in Lake Kariba have been declining due to the El Nino-induced drought.
“Fishers from basin 1 (Mlibizi) and 2 (Binga) are allowed to fish in basin 3 (Sengwa) waters although this intervention will not allow basin 3 fishers to fish in basins 1 and 2. Fishers are, however, expected to adhere to all the other terms and conditions of their permits,” said ZimParks.
The temporary variations in minimum fishing depth for kapenta fishing is an adaptive measure to reduced fishing grounds due to climate change.
Online Reporter