Local authorities in the defunct Gogrial State have announced a ban on the use of harmful fishing equipment, saying it will serve to reinforce an earlier order in 2018.

Peter Madut, the director-general of the defunct Gogrial state ministry of agriculture, forestry, and fisheries, told Radio Tamazuj that the ban is necessary as it endeavors to protect fish and guarantee sustainable use of the resource.

“The ban is based on the use of harmful equipment for fishing like mosquito nets, sometimes in other places there are some people who use hand grenades, and even some people use poison to do fishing and we have also issued a notice to the fisherman who are doing fishing along the river and those who are involved in selling fish to come and renew their licenses,” Madut said.

According to Madut, proper fishing will prevent depletion of the resource and consequently ensure that the next generation is not deprived of fish.

Fishmongers expressed their reservations about renewing their licenses now and said it is always done in January.

Michael Anei, a fishmonger in the Kuajok market said the river is still full of water and there is not enough fish to allow him to make a profit to pay for the license.

“For sure, currently we have not obtained licenses but we know licenses are given in January. Besides we want to first collect enough money as fish will be in abundance so that we can buy enough fish that can give us profit to enable us to obtain the license. We proposed January because by then we shall have had enough to allow us to pay for the license and enough to make us continue with the business,” Anei said.

Another fishmonger in Kuajok market, Lino Gaak, said licensing is done in January. He pleaded that the ministry waits until January when the river will recede and fish will be in abundance.

“My main concern is that licensing is always done in January, whether you have a shop or any business, licensing is done in January,” Gaak said. “We people dealing in fish business know that when January comes we will go for licensing. Again, there is no money in the hands of the people now and we are not making any profit, we just want to continue like this until we get enough money.”

Every fishmonger is required to pay 3, 000 South Sudanese Pounds to obtain a license, a fee which the state officials insist is affordable.