Fisheries in Zambia : an undervalued contributor to poverty reduction

Abstract

Zambia's rich endowment of water resources provides the foundations for supporting significant economic growth and development. Water area, including rivers, lakes, swamps, flood plains and streams accounts for approximately 145,194 km (19 percent of total territory). Although water is abundant, access and use is limited by human, institutional, and financial resources. The uneven distribution of water resources across the country and high climatic variability result in frequent floods and droughts, which coupled with increasing degradation of the resource base are increasingly jeopardizing the role of water in the country's economic development. Global circulation models of climate change predict that over the next 20 to 30 years Zambia will experience increasing temperatures, with longer dry periods and more intense rainfall and increased storm events. The contribution of the fisheries sector to the Government's goal of more inclusive, diversified and sustained economic growth can be addressed by: 1) strengthening the governance system for water resources; 2) implementing a plan of action to more efficiently apply existing resources to productive purposes; 3) enhancing the value of capture fisheries through post-harvest investments; 4) facilitating trade and improving markets; and 5) fostering the growth of sustainable aquaculture.