Information on fishing activities in lowland areas of Lesotho is based on studies carried out by ALCOM and the Fisheries Section since 1989. Apart from information collected through informal discussions or minor research over the duration of the project, the sources of information include a study on the demand for fresh fish around selected small water bodies in the Lowlands carried out in 1989 (Sen, 1991), a creel survey around two dams (Westerlund, 1994) and a brief questionnaire answered by 51 respondents living around 12 selected lowland reservoirs carried out in July 1993.
According to the reservoir inventory (Tilquin & Maseatile, 1994), the main uses of reservoirs are as follows:
| Livestock watering | 80% |
| Domestic uses | 64% |
| Irrigation | 25% |
| Fish stocking | 10% |
| Municipal water supply | 10% |
| Subsistence handline fishing | 10% |
| drainage to below fish ponds | 5% |
| Artisanal Brick Plant | 5% |
All land in Lesotho is vested in the Basotho nation and is held in trust by the King (Kingdom of Lesotho, Second Five Year Development Plan, 1975–1980 in Chondoma, 1988). The allocation of the land in rural areas is the responsibility of the chiefs and the Village Development Councils (former Land Allocation Committees). Land is a national and social asset to be utilized for the benefit of the people. This concept has been frequently blamed for land degradation in Lesotho. Theoretically, this traditional land tenure system ensures an equitable distribution of the land. Practically this does not hold (Chondoma, 1988).
The protection of freshwater fish in Lesotho is governed by Proclamation No. 45 of 1951. According to this regulation the use of gillnets seems to be prohibited except for the purpose of research. The main reason is probably that the fishery resources for many water bodies were till now not known. The proclamation is obviously outdated and in need of reform.
Ownership and control is clear for some reservoirs; for some other reservoirs it is not. For example, for some reservoirs, the local chief (or chiefs), the Government, the community and private institutions are all reported to own or control the same reservoirs. There are uncertainties as regards the ownership of the fish as well. Where the Government has stocked the reservoirs, it is believed that they own the fish, even if the community owns the dam.
Fisheries control and access appear to be well understood. Most people interviewed thought that fishing permits were required and had to be obtained from the Ministry of Agriculture. Knowledge about the costs of permits was varied. There was a feeling that people were not allowed to fish around a few reservoirs.
Capture fisheries in Lesotho exist on a small scale and are not well documented. Fishing is mostly done by herdboys and men. Traditionally, herdboys fish mostly in rivers and occasionally in reservoirs. They are reported to use hook and line or sharp objects (Tsenene), or catch fish by hand after tranquillizing the fish with some indigenous plant, e.g. Eucomis bicolor (Mofolo, 1993b).
The gear used varies anywhere from home-constructed hook and line to catching fish by hand, depending on the circumstances. The fisherfolk survey undertaken in 1991–92 provides interesting information on yearly catch and fishing effort around two reservoirs in Maseru town (Westerlund, 1994). The most common gear type used is hook and line (61%), followed by rod and line (30%) rod and reel (6%) and nets (3%). Only one person is reported to use spears. Few individuals attach more than two hooks to one line.
Fishing is generally a part-time or occasional activity carried out during summer. The main purpose of fishing is to provide fish for household consumption. Fishing is carried out almost exclusively by men and boys from nearby communities. They may be unemployed or casual labourers fishing on the days they cannot find employment, schoolboys fishing on weekends and holidays, or headboys who are also tending cattle. Around some reservoirs, leisure fishermen from the town come on weekends to fish.
Catches from handline fishing are dominated by three species: Labeo umbratus, Cyprinus carpio and Clarias gariepinus. Handlining CPUE is very low : about 0.3 fish/gear/day (12hrs) in lowland reservoirs during the favourable fishing season (October-March) and 0,1 in the colder season (April-September).
Local fish traps made of a bag stuck into water by means of wood sticks set in running water are occasionally reported (Mofolo, pers. com.). But most fish trap usage is not recorded at present though bushmen rock paintings indicate that they are likely to have been used in earlier times (Chondoma, 1988). Other fishing gear such as nets, electrofishers, etc, are prohibited for all other purposes except research (chapter 7.3.1.).
Fishing is done mainly with hook and short handline, and for leisure fish catchers, with rod and reel. The lines are home-made or bought, while the hooks are bought. Bread or mealie pap are commonly used as bait. Fishermen often use more than one line. Seine nets and spears are also reported as being used around some reservoirs, but this is not common.
In general, fishing is carried out in the summer season (November-March) although some people fish all the year round. Depending on the individual, fishing can take place all day, in the mornings or in the afternoon.
Because of its low domestic fish production and heavy dependence on imported fish products (fresh, frozen, canned or dried), Lesotho has a straightforward marketing system. The imported products move through the normal wholesale-retail food supply network to be sold in supermarkets, local neighbourhood stores, butcheries, hotels, and restaurants (Reynolds, 1993).
One effect of the long-term linkage with the South African food distribution and marketing system has been the ready availability of processed and particularly tinned fish products at attractive prices (Table 7.1.). Even if fish in Lesotho was not historically significant or a widespread feature of indigenous diets, it is very popular with nearly all sectors of the population, and its consumption is especially high in urban areas (Mofolo, 1993b).
Table 7.1. Retail fish prices, Maseru, February 1994
1 Maloti = 0.29 US$ (February, 1994)
| TYPE OF FISH | PRICE (Maloti) | SOURCE |
| 1. Fresh - frozen products | ||
| Freshwater fish whole | 4.00/kg | Fisheries Section, 1994 |
| Freshwater fish gutted | 4.50/kg | Fisheries Section, 1994 |
| Freshwater fish fillet | 5.00/kg | Fisheries Section, 1994 |
| Fingerling live | 0.20/piece | Fisheries Section, 1994 |
| Freshwater fish whole | 4–10/piece | Local fish catchers, 1994 |
| Trout (frozen) | 7.00/kg | Restaurant, Auberge, Maseru, 1994 |
| Prawn | 35–55/kg | Supermarket, Maseru, 1994 |
| 2. Processed products | ||
| 2.1. Frozen | ||
| Hake fillet (400g) | 15–18/kg | idem |
| Hake gutted head off | 6–8/kg | idem |
| 2.2. Tinned fish (pilchard) | ||
| Can 155g | 2.19 | idem |
| Can 215g | 2.49 | idem |
| Can 425g | 3.65 | idem |
Findings from socio-economic surveys carried by ALCOM in rural areas (Sen, 1991), show that fish are mainly caught for household or own consumption. It is occasionally sold either in the village or a nearby town. Fish is eaten either fresh or sun-dried. All studies have confirmed that fish is eaten by the majority of the population. Sen (1991) found that 82% of the households around the reservoirs studied ate fresh fish, while in the 1993 survey 92% of the respondents said they ate fish.
Most of the people report that they are willing to buy fish, although prices stated vary widely. Many rural consumers and some urban consumers in Lesotho may not be familiar with fresh fish but tinned fish is commonly eaten and is widely available.
Fish prices in Lesotho vary with demand and the price of imported sea fish from South Africa is not controlled by the Government. However, fish farmers sell their fish at the same rate as the fisheries section (Chondoma, 1988). A minor fish price survey carried out in February 1994 revealed that there was no difference in price between different freshwater fish species (Table 7.1.). Fish sold by local fishermen can fetch a high value.
