Kapenta stocks decline in Lake Kariba

The Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) has temporarily lowered the minimum allowable fishing depth in Lake Kariba from 20 metres to 17 metres in response to persistent declines in Kapenta catches and reduced water levels.

The adjustment, which will run from December 1, 2025 to March 31, 2026, marks a continuation of measures first introduced in late 2024 following the impact of El Niño, which contributed to shrinking water levels. The extension is meant to support sustainable fishing while maintaining economic activity for operators.

In a notice issued to Kapenta fishers, ZimParks Director General Professor Edison Gandiwa said research findings showed that Lake Kariba's water levels remain lower than expected for this time of the year, prompting the regulatory shift.

"ZimParks has been proactively monitoring lake levels and recent assessments indicate that current water levels are lower than expected," Prof Gandiwa said. He added that the authority had reinstated depth measures to preserve remaining viable fishing areas, alongside continued monitoring of Kapenta size and stock quality.

Under the latest directive, fishers operating in Basins 1 (Mlibizi) and 2 (Binga) will be permitted to fish in Basin 3 (Sengwa) during this period. However, Basin 3 operators will not be allowed to fish in Basins 1 and 2 - a restriction that has drawn concern from industry players.

The Zimbabwe Kapenta Producers Association (ZKPA) welcomed the depth adjustment but criticised the basin movement limits, saying they disadvantage Basin 3 fishers.

"Basin 3 fishers are deprived in that when catches start to improve, the free-moving Basin 1 and 2 fishers come and crowd the few deep areas, causing overfishing and subsequent low harvests," ZKPA vice-chairperson Bernard Munsaka said, urging ZimParks to consider a shared basin model for operators across all regions.

Kapenta catches have sharply declined over the decades - dropping from 30 000 tonnes in the 1990s to just 5 175 tonnes in 2023, representing an 83% fall. Current returns are reported to have fallen to as low as nine kilogrammes per fishing rig per night.

Government's new agriculture framework, the Agriculture Food Systems and Rural Transformation Strategy 2: 2026–30, highlights overfishing, high operating costs, illegal harvesting, climate change and water pollution as major contributors to the decline. Production is expected to remain subdued at around 7 000 tonnes annually through 2030, with Kapenta contributing 0,1% to the agricultural economy.

Authorities hope that the proposed Fisheries and Aquaculture Act will strengthen monitoring, surveillance and investment in the Kapenta value chain.

Kapenta fishing remains a key contributor to food security, employment and local livelihoods, making Lake Kariba management central to Zimbabwe's fisheries sustainability efforts.