BUUMBA CHIMBULU writes
@SunZambian
ZAMBIA’S fish production for last year improved by 6,157 metric tonnes on the back of increased catches of kapenta on Lake Kariba and adherence to fisheries laws.
In the Annual Economic Report for 2018 Government indicates that the performance of the fisheries sector shows an improvement with overall fish production increasing to 115,799 metric tonnes compared to 109,642 tonnes produced in 2017.
The report attributes the improvement to increased catches of Kapenta on Lake Kariba, sustained production from Lake Mweru, Lake Bangweulu and Kafue Floodplain fishery areas.
“The increased enforcement and adherence to fisheries laws allowed for fish breeding resulting into increased fish production. Capture fisheries production increased by 1.32 percent to 89,234 metric tonnes in 2018 from 88,075 tonnes in 2017,” the report says.
Aquaculture production, the report indicates, increased by 37.08 percent to 29,565 metric tonnes in 2018 from 21,567 tonnes in 2017.
Government attributes the improvement to increased production by commercial farmers using both cages and ponds.
“Development of private hatcheries and community centres for fingerling production also aided the increase in production,” the report indicates.
