The Sunday Mail
Theseus Shambare
THOSE who steal fish from farms and other water bodies should be imprisoned for not less than 10 years as a deterrence to protect the fisheries and aquaculture sector, according to stakeholders who attended a two-day Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy review and formulation programme, which ended on Thursday.
Currently, the offence is treated as an ordinary case of theft.
Chairperson of the Zimbabwe National Fish Producers Association Mr Garikai Munatsirei said fish had to be categorised under livestock so that any related theft will be taken seriously.
“If stealing cattle attracts a 10-year jail term, why not for fish? I think when the policy is in place, it has to categorise fish under livestock so that any related theft will be taken seriously,” he said.
“In order to see growth in the sector, there is a need for a policy that is farmer-centred. The producer needs to be protected to encourage expansion and attract more investment.”
Prince Magwenzi of Brown Aquariums Zimbabwe, who is also a fish farmer, indicated that the current legal framework is discouraging prospective fish farmers to join the sector.
“Some farmers had their first batches stolen and they abandoned production,” he said.
Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) fisheries expert Mr Paul Mwera said the law needs to be protective to attract investment.
“If the legal framework is protective, development and private players will not hesitate to invest in the sector.
“Once fish is given value in the policy, more players will eventually come on board,” said Mr Mwera.
Livestock and fisheries lecturer at Marondera University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology Professor Chrispen Phiri said fish farmers are suffering in silence.
“Farmers toil for six or eight months feeding fish to reach the required size and weight, only to lose everything to thieves,” said Prof Phiri.
“There are costs involved. A fish pond may have fish weighing a total of five tonnes. If we do the calculations, one kilogramme is generally sold for US$1,80. This means a farmer may lose not less than US$9 000 to thieves overnight.”
Fisheries and Aquaculture Resources Department (FARD) acting deputy director Mrs Clementain Zvavahera said there was need for legal protection for farmers.,
“The department is still in its infancy but we are working to ensure we incorporate every stakeholder in the development of our potentially high-value subsector,” said Mrs Zvavahera.
The policy review was convened by the African Union Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources and FARD, supported by the European Union.
It sought to align Zimbabwe’s policy with relevant international frameworks that promote sustainable development and economic growth in the fisheries sector.
