Okavango Delta Management Plan - Ramsar Convention on Wetlands

2.4.6 2.4.6 FISHING
The <strong>Okavango</strong> <strong>Delta</strong> fishery consists of three categories of fisheries, viz; subsistence,
commercial and Sport/Recreational fisheries (Tweddle, D. et al, 2003).
2.4.6.1 Subsistence fishing
This activity involves fishing at subsistence level. However, where excess fish is caught it
may be sold. This activity is characterized by seasonality, involvement of large numbers of
women and children, low investment levels and simple fishing technology such as
traditional fishing gear (spears, traps, baskets).
2.4.6.2 Commercial fishing
The commercial fishery is characterized by the use of modern fishing gear such as powered
boats, gill-nets, refrigeration facilities and also the catching of fish mainly for sale. The
freezer facilities led to the establishment of centrally located marketing centres easily
accessible for buyers of fish. The origins of the sector can be ascribed to the introduction of
Financial Assistance Schemes in the 1980s that gave generous fishing grants to fishers.
Fish catch composition in the gill-net commercial fishery is mainly dominated by Cichlid
species (Tilapia/Bream), Clariid species (Catfishes), Hydrocynus (Tigerfish) and Schilbe
(Silver catfish). Cichlids are the most preferred species at the market, hence fishers always
target them. The commercial fishers target mainly the large bream species that have high
economic value and also are the most preferred at the market.
Table 2-13 gives indicative figures of revenue generated from fish production at
Samochima. Despite the fact that fish is an important resource, it has not attracted
adequate level of investment in terms of the development of the sector at both national and
district level. According to DDP 5, the sector was allocated P200 000.00 between 1997 and
2003 for the development in Ngamiland. This is 0.1% of the total budget for the agriculture
in the district. Therefore such low level of investment inhibits the fish resources to
contribute meaningfully to the economy of the district. Indications from recent studies
(Mosepele 2000 and Tweedle et al., 2003) are that the current off-take levels are within the
sustainable use levels, however thorough analysis through the ODMP fish stock
assessments will confirm these findings.
Table 2-13 : Fish production and revenue collection figures for Boiteko syndicate
(Samochima): 1999-2005 (DWNP, 2005)
YEAR WEIGHT (KG) AMOUNT (PULA) LEVY
1999 15 324.7 121 935.40 P6 141.95
2000 16 339.8 179 737.80 P7 829.40
2001 10 221.6 112 437.6 P5 133.43
2002 9 648.9 106 137.90 P4 035.43
2003 9 420.7 97 111.70 P4 855.60
2004 8 750.3 93 474.40 P4 673.70
2005 7 651.8 91 821.60 P4 244.95
TOTAL 77 357.8 802 656.4 36 914.46
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