FISHING IN ZAMBIA

This post will help us explore the status of fishing in Zambia from rivers to lakes and commercial fishponds. This is mainly meant to help the students revise with well summarized and straight to the point notes.

Fishing is an industry which deals with catching and processing of fish

Importance of Fishing in Zambia

• It brings foreign exchange through selling of fish to other countries
• It provides food to the people of Zambia
• Fishing in Zambia is a tourist attraction
• It is a basis for some industries which means there are some industries which depends on fishing
• It provides employment to the people of Zambia

Zambia’s fishing areas or fisheries

Fisheries are place where fish is caught. They include; lakes rivers, swamps, dams and fish ponds.

The fishing in Zambia is more importantly done in the following fishing areas are:

• Luapula river, Zambezi river, Kafue river, lukanga swamp, Luangwa river, chambeshi river
• Lake kariba, lake Tanganyika, lake Mweru, lake mweru wantipa

Lake Kariba fishery

• It is 280 km long.
• Fingerlings (baby fish) of Tilapia from Chilanga and Kapenta from Tanganyika were introduced.
• A fisheries training center was introduced at Sinazongwe.
• Fish caught include Kalongwe, Mutaba, bream, tiger fish, and Kachesa.

Kafue fishery

• It is 292 km from Kafue gorge to Itezhi-tezhi gap.
• Droppings from wild animals and cattle provide rich food for the fish.
• Gill nets, lines, spears, clubs, scoops and traps are used to catch the fish.
• Types of fish include bream, barbell, pike, bulldog and bottlenose.
• Lusaka provides a good market for the fish.

Lake Tanganyika fishery

• Zambia occupies 1/8 of the lake.
• Fish include Nile perch, Kapenta, and bream.
• Scoop nets and gill nets are used.
• Commercial firms like Sopelac and Chani operate here, using motor powered boats.
• Distance to the copper belt town for market is too far.

Bangweuru fishery

• This includes the lake and all the swamps around.
• Fish include bulldog, barbell, tiger fish, and bream. 
• Fishermen use gillnets, long lines, spears and baskets.
• Fish is marketed and dried due to long distance to markets.

Lake Mweru and Mweru-Ntipa Fishery

• Extends from Mambilima to the edge of Lake Mweru.
• Gillnets, lines and baskets are used by fishermen.
• Fish caught include snout fish, tiger fish, mud suckers, catfish, barbell, and green-headed bream.
• Most fish is sold fresh

Other fisheries

• Fishing in Zambia is also conducted in Upper Zambezi and Lukanga in Central province.
• Fish include tiger fish, mud suckers and bream, etc