The Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock has urged members of the community in Chasefu District in Eastern Province to form fisheries and dam management committees to curb indiscriminate fishing.

Fisheries Assistant, Rhodiah Tembo, says the formation of committees will help the fisheries department to control fishing activities in various dams across the district.

Speaking in an interview with ZANIS, Ms Tembo said the committees will help sensitise community members to follow guidelines on proper fishing gears and the dangers of disposing harmful substances in the dams.

She explained that fishers are only required to pay a yearly fee of K84 to enjoy legal fishing benefits.

The Fisheries Assistant added that people do not have to travel as far as Lundazi to acquire the license because offices have been decentralized.

She asserted that the fisheries department saw the need to come on board and help the people in the district to protect their natural food resources amidst the hunger crisis in the country. 

She, however, acknowledged the need to restock the dams with fish as some of the water bodies are running short of the marine species. 

And Ms. Tembo has described the response from the community as positive adding that they are willing to wait for the stipulated time before carrying out any fishing activities.