LUAPULA Province Fisheries and Livestock Coordinator Joseph Chiti has bemoaned lack of compliance to the annual fishing ban in the Province.

And Luapula Province Permanent Secretary Mighty Mumba has directed  District Commissioners in the region to help in enforcing the fishing ban.

Mr. Chiti explains that some fishmongers in the area have continued to venture into fishing activities from the natural water bodies despite the fishing ban being in effect.

ZANIS reports that Mr. Chiti in an interview indicated that some traders have also continued to freely sell fish on the market which is against the law.

“We have had situations where certain traditional leaders are allowing their subjects to continue fishing even during the ban and this is regrettable,” he says.

He reasoned  that instead of all stakeholders working together to enforce the fishing ban, others have decided to be doing the opposite.

The Coordinator explains that all stakeholders needs to join forces in enforcing the ban for the good of the province.

“In fact this ban is meant to benefit the people of Luapula because it is aimed at giving fish a chance to breed so that there can be more fish in the Province,” he says.

And Luapula Province Permanent Secretary Mighty Mumba has directed  District Commissioners in the region to help in enforcing the fishing ban.

Mr. Mumba said that District Commissioners have the mandate of explaining government’s objective of imposing the fishing ban on water bodies in Luapula Province.

Mr. Mumba explains that fishing ban is within the country’s laws hence there is need to ensure that everyone respects it.

“We cannot be allowing people to go against the law and we are just watching them,” he says.

He observed that all the local fish species such as Mbowa will be completely wiped out if people continue fishing during the ban.

The Permanent Secretary has since urged various stakeholders in the province to support the fishing ban.