Objectives

To develop fisheries resources and ensure production of safe and quality fish and fishery products for sustainable economic growth and national income.

Functions

• To initiate and review fisheries policies, legislation, guidelines, standards and programmes.
• To promote potential areas for investment in the fisheries.
• To promote development of fisheries infrastructures.
• To enforce fisheries legislations.
• To strengthen collaboration with relevant Regional and International Istitutions responsible for implementation of fisheries development, protocols and management conventions.
• To promote quality Fisheries practices.
• To promote development of sustainable fisheries in natural waters.
• To monitor and evaluate Marine Parks and Reserves activities.
• To strengthen, coordinate and disseminate fisheries information.
• To collaborate with stakeholders to conduct environment impact assessment for fisheries investment in the sector and monitor their implementation.

This Division will be led by a Director and will have four (4) Sections: -

1. Fisheries Resource Development Section

This Section will perform the following activities: -

• Promote development of sustainable fisheries in natural waters.
• Mobilize resources from within and external organizations and governments for fisheries sector development.
• Facilitate the conducting of environment impact assessment for all investment in fisheries and monitor their implementation.
• Strengthen Regional and International Collaboration Institutions responsible for implementation of fisheries development and management conventions.
• Promote National capacities in cooperation with small scale industries to produce fish and fishery products.
• Promote development of alternative livelihoods in an effort to minimize over-fishing in the capture fisheries and increase income to stakeholders.
• Identify, prepare guideline and promote investment opportunities in Fisheries Industry.
• Promote private sector enterprise development in Fisheries Sector by promoting small scale and commercial fishing.
• Collect and coordinate fisheries statistics for policies, plans and budget development and dissemination to stakeholders.
• Coordinate and monitor environmental issues related to fisheries activities in major and minor water bodies.
• Promote community participation in the sector and collaboration with other related sectors to enhance their participation.
• Develop and review management agreement with fisheries collaborative management units.
• Establish and maintain a national register for fisheries collaborative management units.
• Facilitate formation and functioning of fisheries associations
• Monitor and evaluate functions of fisheries collaborative management units.
• Provide mitigating measures in fisheries development activities in order to resolve conflicting objectives.
• Develop and maintain fisheries and research statistics database.

This Section will be led by an Assistant Director.

1. Fisheries, Marketing and Quality Control Section

This Section will perform the following activities: -

• Promote development of Fisheries Technologies for improvement of the industry.
• Ensure harmonization of National and International standards for the fish and fishery products meet the global markets requirement.
• Provide guidelines for production of quality fish and fishery products for public consumption and facilitate the condition of appropriate sanitary inspection of products in the fish establishments, audit of production systems and issuance of Health Certificates.
• Promote market linkage between the producers and consumers of fish and fishery products, and facilitate distribution and marketing infrastructure development in collaboration with the private sectors.
• Promote the use of appropriate technologies in fish harvesting, handling, transportation and processing, production of value added products, utilization of low – valued species in the effort to reduce poverty.
• Liaise with national and International organizations on matters related to fish and fishery products marketing.
• Facilitate harmonization of National standards and regulations with international ones and disseminate information to relevant stakeholders to ensure compliance.
• Collaborate with national and international institutions to validate tests, upscale technologies and standards for fish and fishery products desired by stakeholders.

This Section will be led by an Assistant Director.

1. Monitoring, Control and Surveillance Section

This Section will perform the following activities: -

• Strengthen collaboration with relevant Regional and International Institutions in combating Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing and trade.
• Coordinate and facilitate harmonization and implementation of fisheries management measures of the highly migratory and straddling fish stocks in the high seas.
• Coordinate the implementation of FAO code of conduct for responsible fisheries.
• Cooperate in resolving trans-boundary fisher conflicts with countries bordering the high seas.
• Coordinate and implement port State measures as agreed under regional fisheries management organizations for a control of foreign fishing vessels.
• Monitor and coordinate trans-shipments of fishing products both at port and at sea.
• Enforce long-arm jurisdiction in fisheries matter and crimes connected with the fishing industry.
• Enforce of Lusaka agreement on illegal trade and other protocols.
• Undertake high seas Monitoring, Control and Surveillance (MCS) activities carried by foreign fishing and transport vessels.
• Monitor fishing activities carried by foreign fishing and transport vessels.
• Facilitate and Monitor Revenue Collection as well as collect export royalty.
• Conduct surveillance and enforcement of the fisheries legislation in collaboration with relevant agencies and communities.
• Promote and Implement protection of fragile ecosystems or critical habitats, processors and conservation of biodiversity.
• Coordinate and monitor the Implementation of the National Plan of Action (NPOA) for management of fishing capacity.
• Promote protection of vulnerable species, endangered and threatened Living Aquatic Resources.

This Section will be led by an Assistant Director.

1. Fisheries Infrastructure Development Section

This Section will perform the following activities: -

• Facilitate fish market and other related infrastructure technologies.
• Collaborate with Local Government Authorities and private sector in construction and development fisheries infrastructure.
• Promote and sensitize establishment of boatyards, fish gears manufacturing and cold chain facilities.
• Promote and sensitize development of fishery products processing industry.

This Section will be led by an Assistant Director.