Policy Vacuum. Inland Fishers Push for Change

The rights of inland fishers have been a talking point for for several years. This year they reached melting point when they were denied the right to fish during the COVID-19 national lockdown periods. Instead they say they are victims of racism, harassment and criminalisation. A National Freshwater (Inland) Wild Capture Fisheries Policy is taking a long time to finalise but there are many complications.

The Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries acknowledges there is a policy vacuum. It says it has begun the process to formalise the inland fisheries sector through the development of a policy that ensures sustainable development. This legislation, the Department says, should assist it to deal with what it dealt with in the rest of the biodiversity economy, which was sustainable use.

A freshwater inland wild capture fisheries policy has been in the works since 2017. It has got as far as to be presented at the Minister and Members of Executive Council meeting in June 2020. There it was approved for tabling at National Economic Development and Labour Council (NEDLAC).