13. The delegation of Zambia presented an overview on the importance of co-management as a tool for sustainable fisheries management and development. It was reported that Lake Kariba still remains one of the most important fisheries in Zambia. The lake supports an artisanal gillnet fishery, industrial kapenta also known as pelagic fishery and a newly developing fish farming enterprise using cages. Operators in the industrial fishery are also involved with crocodile farming.
Co-management processes
14. The delegates were informed that from 1920’s to 60’s fisheries in Zambia had been managed by various Game Ordinance Acts. In 1974 a Fisheries Act not very different from the Game Ordinance Acts was enacted. There was not much compliance to regulations by the fishers because communities did not participate in the process of developing these pieces of legislation. Alternative management strategies had to be sought and fisheries co-management was thus introduced to the lake communities in 1994.
15. It was noted that the initial agreements relating to 60 percent retention from fishing licenses and another 60 percent from fish levies by Fisheries Village Management Committee’s (FVMC’s) have not been fully implemented because government has not enacted the revised Fisheries Act, while the Councils are remitting 25 percent of levy collection to Zones.
Statistics submitted by Zonal Management Committees (zone 1 and 2)
16. The Consultation was informed that there was need to explore the possibility of collecting Frame and Catch Assessment Surveys through Zonal Management Committee structures. The test case for zones 1 and 2 has proved to be cost effective and updating of such information can be done quarterly.
Extension service delivery
17. The delegates were informed that prior to introduction of co-management there were 256 fishing villages in 1992 and after introducing co-management and re-grouping of fishermen in 1994 there are now 44 fishing villages. Before implementing co-management it was difficult to reach all fishers but now due to establishment of fewer fishing villages delivery of extension services has improved. Zambia has precise estimates of fisher population and gear for 26 out of the 44 villages.
Resource and credit assistance for fishers
18. The Zambian delegation informed the Consultation that the initial Fisheries Co-management arrangement was that the zone should give soft loans to women groups to start up activities to raise funds. A good number of fishing villages have women clubs and other Income Generating Activities (IGA’s) like baking scones/buns and flitters, sewing clubs. At least one has grown into a cooperative now and owns a grinding meal i.e. Ngoma Co-operative Society (in zone 2). Zone 4 (Siavonga Area) has been supported by the Germany Embassy to acquire banana boats which have been given to fishers on a loan and also renting them out(as part of fund raising) a DoF now comes under Ministry of Agriculture and Co-operatives (MACO), which promotes setting up of cooperatives. However, this remains misunderstood by most fishing village communities because to them, cooperatives are synonymous to groups interested in obtaining fertilizer and seed crop. There is still need to sensitize fisher communities on the benefits of working as a team.
