Mozambique: Fishermen arrested in Gorongosa National Park – Photos

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Mozambique: Fishermen arrested in Gorongosa National Park – Photos

4:37 CAT | 07 May 2020

All photos: Courtesy of Gorongosa News

Wardens in the Gorongosa National Park, in the central Mozambican province of Sofala, have arrested 22 people who were not only fishing illegally inside the park, but then processed their catch in such a way that it was likely to poison consumers.

According to a Thursday release from the park the wardens found the 22 men fishing on 4 May at the confluence of the Urema and Pungue rivers. They intended to sell the fish in urban centres – Beira, Dondo and Nhamatanda in Sofala, Chimoio in Manica, and even Alto Molocue in Zambezia.

To prevent the fish from rotting on these long journeys, they rubbed insecticides into their catch. The insecticides found in the possession of the fishermen included pyrethroid and organophosphate insecticides, and chloroacetanilde (which is supposed to be used as a herbicide rather than an insecticide).

No doubt these substances would have killed any flies landing on the poached fish – but they are also highly toxic to human beings. Depending on how much is ingested, they can cause various types of tumours, atrophied testicles, kidney damage, mouth ulcers, vomiting, abdominal pain, damage to the central nervous system, which might lead to convulsions, paralysis and death.

The administrator of the Gorongosa Park, Pedro Muagura, told the fishermen to find some other form of livelihood, since they are endangering public health and contributing to destroying the environment.

Working with the police, the park wardens also found that, in addition to violating the National Park, where no fishing is allowed, the 22 men also had either no fishing licences, or expired licences, and were using nets with mesh smaller than authorised.

These crimes against the environment and against public health carry jail sentences, and so the fishermen were handed over to prosecutors in Nhamatanda district.