Allexer Namundjembo
The government has declared the Ikaba fishing area in the Kabulabula conservancy a fisheries reserve, strengthening efforts to protect and sustainably manage inland fish resources in Namibia’s Zambezi Region.
The declaration was made by minister of agriculture, fisheries, water and land reform Inge Zaamwani through Government Notice No. 239, published in Government Gazette No. 8980, in terms of Section 22(1) of the Inland Fisheries Resources Act of 2003.
The decision follows an initiative by the Zambezi Regional Council and the Bukalo Traditional Authority, which engaged the government on the need to formally protect the area.
The Ikaba Fisheries Reserve is located within the Kabulabula conservancy and is bordered by the Kasika conservancy to the east, Ikaba emerging conservancy to the north, Nakabolelwa conservancy to the west, and the Chobe River to the south.
The area consists of a permanently connected water body linked to the Chobe River, featuring deep waters, reed-lined margins and water lilies. It provides important habitat for aquatic and wildlife species, including crocodiles, hippos and various water birds.
“The Fisheries Reserve becomes part of a sea of water when the Chobe floodplains get inundated, with only a few islands present on the horizon,” the government notice states.
The declaration forms part of broader efforts by authorities and local communities to protect fish populations and aquatic ecosystems in the Zambezi Region, where fishing remains a key source of food and income.
A community-based conservation approach involving traditional leadership and regional structures is expected to guide the management of the reserve.
The gazette provides official GPS coordinates defining the boundaries of the protected area, supporting effective monitoring and enforcement.
The reserve is expected to contribute to the protection of fish breeding areas, improve fisheries management and ensure the long-term availability of fish resources for communities in and around the Kabulabula conservancy.
The declaration of the Ikaba Fisheries Reserve follows another recent milestone in Namibia’s community-based conservation efforts: the establishment of the Ekango Lyomongwa conservancy in the Oshikoto Region.
Ekango Lyomongwa was declared a conservancy under the Nature Conservation Ordinance of 1975, with the proclamation published in Government Gazette No. 8744 on 17 September 2025.
Located in the Omuntele constituency, the conservancy covers 132 651.94 hectares and will be divided into management zones.
Its boundaries begin at the Etosha National Park fence and extend through areas including Okalonga, Othadhambuku, Etopelyombidhi, Etambo, Oshalongo, Onkani, Epumbu, Omutomboli and Iitota before returning to the starting point.
Minister of environment, forestry and tourism Indileni Daniel described the declaration as a milestone for community-based conservation in Namibia.
“This initiative empowers local communities to manage natural resources sustainably while benefiting economically through ecotourism and wildlife management,” she said in the gazette.
She encouraged communities and stakeholders to participate in ensuring the success of the conservancy.
Ekango Lyomongwa joins other community conservation initiatives such as the King Nehale conservancy, demonstrating how communities can participate in wildlife management, ecotourism development and environmental protection.
The new conservancy is expected to strengthen biodiversity protection in Oshikoto while creating opportunities for sustainable resource management and community development.
Conservancies are established under Section 24A of the Nature Conservation Ordinance of 1975, which allows communities to gain conditional rights to manage and benefit from wildlife resources within defined areas.
The process begins when communities express interest, develop management plans and submit applications, including detailed maps, to the ministry of environment, forestry and tourism.
Once approved, the minister formally declares the area a conservancy through the Government Gazette.
Each conservancy is managed by a democratically elected committee and monitored by the ministry to ensure compliance with conservation and legal requirements.
The Nature Conservation Amendment Act No. 5 of 1996 further strengthened this framework by providing communities with a legal basis to manage and benefit from wildlife resources.
Across Namibia, conservancies are designed to promote sustainable natural resource management, conserve biodiversity and create economic opportunities through activities such as ecotourism, trophy hunting and other wildlife-based initiatives.
Revenues generated from these activities contribute to local development through employment creation and support for community projects.
The declarations of the Ikaba Fisheries Reserve and Ekango Lyomongwa conservancy highlight Namibia’s continued move towards involving local communities in protecting and benefiting from the country’s natural resources.
