Government officials, fish industry captains, civil society and private sector representatives have launched consultations on a new fisheries and aquaculture bill for Zimbabwe. Hailed as a first of its kind piece of legislation, the bill marks a milestone in efforts by the Southern African nation to bolster its fisheries and aquaculture industry.

 “This bill is expected to bring all regulations on aquaculture production and conservation under one roof,” said Honourable Davis Marapira, Deputy Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development at a meeting in Harare that marked the start of consultations on the new law. He added: “The current regulatory framework is impeding growth and investment. The cost of compliance is too high for farmers, while investors are facing too many levies to government departments.”

Strengthening the legal environment is part of Zimbabwe’s efforts to transform its fisheries and aquaculture sectors into drivers of economic growth and job creation. The new bill would be the first of its kind and falls in line with the government thrust of improving the ease of doing business in Zimbabwe. 

The meeting in Harare was organised by FISH4ACP, a global aquatic value chain development initiative of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS), supporting Zimbabwe towards a productive, expanding and sustainable tilapia aquaculture sector that contributes to poverty reduction, improving food security and stimulating economic growth.