As catches dwindle, Congo River fishermen turn to plastic waste

Some fishermen around Kinshasa are now earning more from collecting plastic waste than catching fish, as declining catches put growing pressure on livelihoods along the Congo River. AFP - GUERCHOM NDEBO

On the Congo River, plastic is becoming the catch of the day. Some fishermen around Kinshasa, capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo, can now make more money pulling plastic from the water than catching fish, as declining catches and growing waste pollution threaten an artisanal way of life.

Fishing income has fallen to barely $20 a week for some of the families who depend on the river, while one veteran fisher told RFI he can earn about $80 a week collecting plastic and selling it to recycling companies.