2023-04-25 13:44:06
From May 15 to August 15, 2023, all fishing activities in Lake Tanganyika will be suspended, therefore for a period of three months. This is to allow the reconstitution of the biodiversity of this lake. This measure concerns the countries bordering the said lake, namely: Burundi, Tanzania, the DRC and Zambia. Notwithstanding, the sellers of dry or fresh fish at the Cotebu market do not know which way to go.
The sellers who live daily from the sale of fresh fish encountered at the Ngagara II market (cotebu) do not appreciate the measure taken by the Lake Tanganyika Authority to suspend fishing activities for three months.
It is Wednesday, April 16, 2023. It is 11:36 a.m. when a reporter from the Burundi Eco newspaper arrives at the Ngagara II market, commonly known as Cotebu. The sellers who live daily from the marketing of fresh fish encountered in this market do not appreciate the measure taken by the Lake Tanganyika Authority to suspend fishing activities for three months. ” We don’t see how we are going to support our families during this time as spending three months stuck at home is not easy,” explains Fréderic Minani, a fish seller met at the Ngagara II market.
Lamentations of some fresh fish sellers
The fishing industry supports many people. Some sell wholesale, others are small retailers. Since they do not have the same means for supply, they also do not have the same means for managing this period.
« Today, there are Mukeke-type fish, and other small Mukeke-type fish commonly called Nyamunyamu, Ndagala, which are caught in Lake Tanganyika… Unfortunately, for lack of resources, many of us do not have cold rooms (fridges) to store fish in sufficient quantity so as not to remain inactive during these three months. There is even a risk of consuming the capital” says Onesphore Hakizimana, another fresh fish vendor.
shared losses
« We have heard that the measure in question was taken by the Lake Tanganyika Authority. We cannot transgress it. Moreover, it does not concern us alone. It also affects the owners of the places on which we work, because we cannot continue to pay the rent being at home. “says Mr. Hakizimana
Note that today, a small bucket of fresh Mukeke is bought at 200,000 FBu while 1 kg of dry Ndagala is bought between 65,000 FBu and 70,000 FBu.
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