https://www.linkedin.com/posts/conservezim-conservezim-402997277_national-fisheries-bill-public-consultations-activity-7299324682204278784-8Imx?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_ios&rcm=ACoAAEOZZoIBX1-7rFcrw04ZfUeUPSSwOOU74oo Consultations for the Zimbabwe Fisheries and Aquaculture Bill begins John Cassim The Fisheries and Aquaculture Resources Department (FARD) within the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development (MoLAFWRD) will soon conduct consultations on the Fisheries and Aquaculture Bill in Kariba, Nyanga, and Bulawayo. “Zimbabwe lags behind other SADC nations in developing its fisheries and aquaculture industry. While provisions exist and are currently utilized by various stakeholders, they are insufficient. As of today, the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development has finalized the formulation of the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Plan,” warned Mr Tinashe Milton Makumbe, Director of FARD. This plan is scheduled to be tabled before the Food and Nutrition Security Committee's working officials, and subsequently submitted to Cabinet for approval. The enactment of the Bill is necessary to create an enabling policy and regulatory environment, facilitating the effective implementation of the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Plan. Currently, the Parks and Wildlife Act (Chapter 20:14), specifically Part XIV, sections 82–95, contains the legal provisions governing fisheries in Zimbabwe. These sections: * Designate the appropriate authorities for water bodies housing fisheries, granting the Minister the power to declare entities as authorities. * Empower the Minister to declare water bodies as controlled fishing waters. * Outline the required permissions for fishing in Zimbabwe, permissible fishing methods, and prohibited methods, such as using explosives or electronic jigging devices. * Establish penalties for violations of prohibited fishing methods. However, these existing provisions do not align with the current vision of the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development. Therefore, the Fisheries and Aquaculture Department under MLAFWRD Zim is conducting nationwide stakeholder consultations to present the draft bill for the Fisheries and Aquaculture industry.