The Fisheries and Livestock Department has confiscated more than 200 kilograms of assorted fish and illegal fishing gear during an operation aimed at enforcing the annual fishing ban in Chief Lukwesa’s area along the Luapula River in Mwense District.

Acting Fisheries and Livestock Coordinator Ngenda Mbumwae said the department has intensified both water and road patrols across the district to ensure compliance with the three-month fishing ban, which came into effect on 1st December 2025.

Mr Mbumwae further said that nine suspects were apprehended during the operation but later escaped after a commotion broke out at the scene.

He said that most of the confiscated illegal fishing gear included mosquito nets adding that this was endangering fish species and other organisms found in water bodies.

“Use of wrong fishing gears has continued to negatively affect the breeding of fish,” he said.

And Mwense District Administrative Officer, Phillip Muonga warned of stern action against those abrogating the fish ban.

Mr. Muonga urged the residents to comply to allow fish to breed in the water bodies.

“I wish to urge all the fishermen to allow fish to breed as failure to do so will cause the fish species to go into extinction,” he said

Meanwhile, Chieftainess Lukwesa of the Lunda-speaking people has warned that any of her subjects found violating the fishing ban will not be shielded from the law.

The Traditional Leader appealed to the government to ensure that the culprits are caught and dealt with according to the law.

” Everyone knows that conducting fishing activities during the fish ban is prohibited but some people still conduct such illegally hence government should ensure it enforces the law,” she said.

The fishing ban is enforced from 1st December to 28th February annually to allow fish stocks to replenish.