Fishing for Life
May 2023
Fishing for Life documents various fishermen on Lake Chivero during the cool winter month of May. These pictures were taken during a nature walk at Lake Chivero Recreational Park, Zimbabwe. The walk was guided by a female ranger who shared some of the environmental and socio-economic challenges facing communities of Lake Chivero .
Getting to the park as early as 5:30 a.m., fishermen are ready to work. Registered and unregistered fishermen rely on this body of water for income.
Lake Chivero contains about 250 billion liters of water. It's the primary source of water for the capital city, Harare.
Lake Chivero supports a thriving artisanal industry but it's heavily polluted. Sewer discharge from Harare, Chitungwiza, and Ruva pollute the Lake. Water pollution has led to the persistent growth of hyacinths.
The park ranger mentioned new harmful fishing practices. Fishermen reuse plastic bottles such as brown Chibuku bottles to catch fish. Reused plastic bottles are slowly replacing illegal twine nets.
Plastic pollution endangers bird and aquatic life. Littering by patrons also contributes to plastic waste rising in the waters.
These waters give life to many families. It's the home of the African Fish Eagle and at one point, 25 types of fish. Tackling the Lake's water quality is critical to preserving the ecosystem and communities' livelihoods.