Published 03.01
Some fish get caught in the nets, but they are small and few. However, there seems to be an endless amount of plastic debris in the Congo River, and fishermen see it as their new livelihood.
Charles Moluwa Nzeni Masela, 71, is one of many in Congo-Kinshasa’s capital, Kinshasa, who has always made a living on the river. But now it’s mostly plastic in his net.
He can sell the rubbish to recyclers for 1,000 francs (4 kroner) a kilo – actually a better price than for fish, he tells AFP.
– It is a shame that it has gone this far, but we have no choice, he tells the news agency.
– It’s a way to survive.
The amount of garbage is enormous, in a city with 20 million inhabitants and non-existent garbage collection.
The plastic also inhibits the vegetation in which the fish reproduce. So Nzeni Masela can at best hope that his work at least keeps the door open for the fish’s return.
