By: Nghiinomenwa-vali Erastus
Regulators in the fishing industry have observed intentional pilchard bycatch affecting the recovery of the stock species.
This was revealed in Parliament by the Minister of Agriculture, Land Reforms and Fisheries, Inge Zaamwani, on the outcome of the survey they conducted in response to illegal fishing.
“The observable increase in pilchard landings offers reasonable grounds to suggest that this bycatch may not always be unintentional, but rather a deliberate act,” she said.
She said this directly impacts the recovery efforts for the pilchard species, “and we have communicated this to the fishing industry.”
Current pilchard stock is estimated at 850,000 metric tonnes, still below the 1-million-metric-ton target, which is a scientifically sustainable spawner biomass target, a recent survey by the government revealed.
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