Africa-Press – Botswana. Local fishermen have hailed the annual Bream challenge that promotes sustainable fishing as the platform gave them an opportunity to use and enhance their fishing skills.
The participants appreciated the opportunity as fishing was not only part of their tradition but a source of livelihood, a craft that was passed from one generation to the other. In an interview at the end of the competition at Shakawe on Monday one of the local competitors Modisane Samokuchi from Samochima Fisheries, whose team won position one said the competition gave them an opportunity to use their fishing skills, while exchanging tips with others in the fishing industry. Samokuchi observed that they have won position one on many occasions since the inception of the competition.
According to one of the organisers and also head marshal, Jessica Dawson from Ali Boats Botswana said this year event attracted 32 anglers teams who use boats in the main competition and 10 teams in the mokoro part of the competition made up of locals.
She said that the anglers in the main part of event were mainly from Botswana, Namibia and Mauritius. Dawson said the competition which has been in existence for over five years promoted ‘catch and release’ of fish back into the river streams while alive. She therefore said they incorporated advanced technology this year to ensure the fish caught were measured and released back into the river without bringing it to the competition venue.
Dawson said the event included the mokoro anglers to give back to the community saying the winners were awarded prize money and hampers. She said the total prize money for this year amounted to P400,000 with winners in the main event cash prize being P30,000 while their registration fee was P5,000 each.
The locals, she said, joined with no registration fee and their prize money was P5,000 for position one, P3,000 for position two, P2,000 for position three and P1,000 for the biggest catch as well as hampers. He said fishing was part of their tradition that was passed from one generation to the other.
Another local competitor Odirile Shara who won position two appreciated the fishing competition and the prize money. One of the sponsors of the local competitors, First Capital Bank branch manager Eva Mwila said the Bank came on board last year as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility.
For More News And Analysis About Botswana Follow Africa-Press
