Zambezi: The Namibian Police Force (NamPol) in the Zambezi Region has successfully seized 1,238 kilograms of illegally caught fish over a span of three weeks, from 16 October to 05 November 2025.

According to Namibia Press Agency, the announcement was made during a media briefing by NamPol Spokesperson and Head of Community Policing, Chief Inspector Kisco Sitali. He revealed that various types of illegal fish species valued at N.dollars 92,850 were confiscated, with the majority of the illegal activities occurring in the eastern parts of the region, particularly in the Mutwalwizi area.

Chief Inspector Sitali emphasized that NamPol conducts these operations in collaboration with other stakeholders to ensure compliance in fishing activities along Namibia's shared rivers, aiming to prevent the depletion of fish stocks. Among the prohibited fishing gear seized were shade nets, monofilament nets, and mosquito nets.

Sitali expressed concern over the critical state of some fish stocks, stating that certain species have already reached extinction levels and warned that continued illegal fishing could lead to the depletion of all fish stocks. He also pointed out the increasing involvement of foreign nationals, particularly from neighboring countries, in illegal fishing activities in the Zambezi Region. Additionally, he mentioned that some Namibian nationals have been assisting these individuals.

He called upon citizens to stop employing or harboring those involved in illegal fishing to protect the country's fish resources. Sitali commended the police officers and community members who provided information crucial to the operations. He urged communities to keep reporting illegal fishing activities to help safeguard fish stocks.

The confiscated fish is currently being held at the regional office of the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform, awaiting assessment by regional health inspectors to determine its suitability for consumption. Depending on the inspectors' findings, the fish will either be donated to needy communities or destroyed.

Scientific evidence is used by the fisheries ministry to issue fishing moratoriums, which temporarily halt all fishing activities in freshwater bodies to allow fish stocks to recover.