The Executive Director of Kavango Zambezi Transfontier Conservation Area, KAZA, Nyambe Nyambe, says freshwater fish are a vital protein source for many communities living in the KAZA landscape.

Dr. Nyambe said this during the Fisheries Indaba conference hosted by the Namibia Nature Foundation, which brought participants from Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, and Zambia, as well as research institutions. 

The four-day conference will discuss how to apply future research and management approaches to address issues and ensure diverse livelihoods for the future generation living in the KAZA area.

The conference will also deliberate on how to improve inland fisheries management and governance, as well as pave the way for collaborative research and management practices between the member countries, namely Namibia, Zambia, Botswana, Angola, and Zimbabwe.

Additionally, the conference aims to develop a network of well-governed fish reserves in KAZA to implement transboundary fisheries management plans in collaboration with external partners.

Dr. Nyambe indicates that many communities see fish as a safety net, especially  during  droughts, when crops fail and people's livelihoods are compromised.

The Executive Director at the Namibia Nature Foundation, Angus Middleton, says fisheries are a food source and income generator that hold cultural values and support social activities.

Freshwater fish all over Africa, especially in the north-eastern parts of Namibia, are described as key to increasing the socio-ecological resilience of riverine communities.