Wrecks, crocodiles and hippos: Twelve fishermen die in Cahora Bassa

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Wrecks, crocodiles and hippos: Twelve fishermen die in Cahora Bassa

12:14 CAT | 15 Aug 2017

In a message to the Deputy Minister of the Sea, Inland Waters and Fisheries, Henriques Bongece, the artisanal fishermen who fish the Cahora Bassa reservoir on the Zambezi River in Tete province relayed their deep concern at the deaths of twelve of their colleagues this year in accidents and crocodile and hippo attacks.

Of the 12, five died when they were caught in bad weather; four others were attacked by hippos and three killed by crocodiles.

The meeting, with 538 artisanal fishermen, was held at the Nhabando Fishing Centre near the Cahora Bassa reservoir in the district of the same name.

Speakers at the meeting asked the deputy minister to provide a rescue vessel, saying that victims often die for lack of first aid, while others take refuge in trees but lose their strength and fall back into the water.

In a document read by Angela Frechauth, the fishermen asked for a shop selling artisanal fishing equipment to be opened in the area, as they currently have to travel to Tete to buy materials, greatly increasing its effective cost.

On the request for assistance, Bongece, who ended his visit to the province of Tete a few days ago, noted that two surveillance vessels already operate in the Cahora Bassa reservoir and can quickly come to the assistance of victims if they are informed of incidents.

“We hear your concern; we do not want fishermen to die. We have already said that there are two vessels that may well prevent these deaths,” Bongece said, appealing to those present not to go out in bad weather for this very reason.

As for the shop, Bongece said he had taken note and that he felt this was a legitimate concern which deserved consideration and a response.

By António Chimundo

Source: Diário de Moçambique