Mandala Beach Village Committee (BVC) in collaboration with the Fisheries Department and police, has confiscated fishing gear from fishermen caught without permits at Mandala Beach in Karonga.
Speaking to the Malawi News Agency on Wednesday, Group Village Head (GVH) Malema said the Department of Fisheries has empowered chiefs to create and enforce by-laws to conserve fish stocks through BVCs.
“All fishermen are required to pay K40,000 annually for a fishing permit, but many do not comply. That’s why we launched this surprise operation to seize gear from those without permits,” said Malema.
GVH Malema expressed surprise at the operation’s outcome, noting that while some fishermen refused to pay the K40,000 permit fee, they later paid fines of K140,000 to reclaim their confiscated gear.
By George Mponda, MANA
