Infant fishing in Angola. Sustainable or Unsustainable? An article by Sofonie Dala

 Facts about unsustainable living in the country

Dead Fish in Mangroves

In the mangroves of Lake Kussanga, a wetland adjacent to the mouth of the Chiloango River, in Cabinda, several species of fish find it very difficult to survive and develop.

Otchiva's technical team is carrying out an expedition in these very degraded ecosystems to find answers for their possible solution, for the well-being, mainly of the local community of fishermen who exploit fish, crustaceans, molluscs and other marine resources in this local ecosystem. 

What led to the degradation of this ecosystem?

Why is marine life dying and no longer developing?

Why did many marine species disappear from the site?

Excessive marine fishing damages the ecosystem. Are these children under control?

Control and respect for the specific season for capturing fish and its rational use are the recommended ways to preserve the ecosystem, aiming at sustainable development. On the other hand, uncontrolled overfishing has considerably harmed the aquatic ecosystem, particularly fish.

These boys are collecting some juvenile fish and crabs that are still alive, but trapped in the net inside the boat. Next they are using a knife to kill them in order to facilitate their collection.

They are catching Sardina pilchardus and crabs. It is observed that the children are doing this without the supervision of any adult fisherman.

The type of fishing most used in Angola is the split fishing known as mu-tuco, carried out with non-recommended meshes. The consequence is the capture of juvenile fish, unfit for consumption.

Hi!

Have you been fishing for many years?

Yes.

When you fish, what do you do with the fish. Do you sell or eat them?

we sell them.

Do you raise a large sum of money as a result of the sale?

Yes

Wow, this is good.

Do you know how to swim?

yes we know.

How old are you?

I am 14 and he is nine years old.

Is this a boat or canoe?

This is a canoe.

Is that the net you guys use to fish?

Yes

This fish net is very big!

Boy where is the fish? come to show me this fish!

The abandonment of fishing artefacts near lakes and rivers continue to kill fish and the use of mosquito nets to catch small fish unsuitable for fishing, are other consequences of the use of non-recommended mesh.

These children are showing the fish and crabs they collected. What a pity that they cut off the crab's arms.

There is an urgent need to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development.