LAKE ORDER - Nkhata Bay spearheads boat marking exercise on Lake Malawi
Boat marking will facilitate the identification of vessels during marine accidents and, more importantly, ensure streamlined law enforcement in fisheries governance, especially during closed seasons
NKHATA BAY, Malawi (Planet Defence) - The Restoring Fisheries for Sustainable Livelihoods in Lake Malawi (REFRESH) initiative, in partnership with the Department of Fisheries, has concluded boat marking sensitization meetings with Traditional Authorities along the lakeshore district of Nkhata Bay writes a Planet Defence Correspondent in NKhata Bay.
Trasicio Nguluwe, District Fisheries Officer for Nkhata-Bay, emphasized that boat markings will enhance compliance among the fishing community, facilitating the identification of their origin during marine accidents and enforcement of regulations.
‘The boat registration and marking exercise will assist the council in tackling challenges related to revenue collection, fish restoration, and conservation in Nkhata Bay,” Nguluwe explained after the marking exercise.
Chikosa Mkandawire, Marine Surveyor in the Department of Marine at Nkhata Bay bomb, underscored the importance of the exercise during the community sensitization meeting on lake safety and precautionary measures.
"We’re familiar with the concept of vehicle registration number plates and the historical changes that reflect the age of the vehicle, including the change which occurred which also added regional provenance. Laypeople may not be aware that the fishing industry also has its own registration system which identifies the port of origin of each vessel,” Mkandawire emphasised the need for safety.
Mkandawire added that it is the law in Malawi that all boats operating in Malawian waters are painted and registered by the Ministry of Transport. Once registered, each boat is issued with a carving and marking note that must be, as the name would suggest, both carved and marked on the vessel.
Traditional authorities in Nkhata Bay unanimously endorsed this development, selecting green as the district's color representation for their boats. Additionally, each Traditional Authority has its color of identification. They expressed gratitude to the USAID-funded Restoring Fisheries for Sustainable Livelihoods in Lake Malawi for this significant initiative.
Limbikani Chilima, Project Technician for Nkhata Bay, highlighted that registered boats will streamline identification in cases of accidents or overdue vessels.
"If a boat is lost or stolen, the vessel's registration number and the district's color, along with that of the Traditional Authority, can be used to return the boat to its owner. This promotes order and sustainability in fishing activities on the lake," observed Chilima in an interview.
The REFRESH project, aimed at restoring the lake’s biodiversity in Lake Malawi, employs an ecosystem-based approach to fisheries management with support from USAID.