Congo-Kinshasa: As Catches Dwindle, Congo River Fishermen Turn to Plastic Waste

What the report says

Fishing communities along the Congo River near Kinshasa, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, are seeing a sharp shift in livelihoods as declining fish stocks and rising plastic pollution reshape daily work on the water. According to the AllAfrica-distributed RFI report, some fishers now earn more by collecting plastic waste from the river and selling it for recycling than by landing fish.

The article says family income from fishing has dropped to as little as about $20 a week for some households on the river, while one veteran fisher described taking in roughly $80 a week from plastic collection. It also cites broader concerns about overfishing and waste management, including research showing long-term declines in parts of the Congo Basin fisheries and local reporting that much of Kinshasa’s waste is openly dumped or burned.

Near Kinshasa, fishers described nets bringing in small fish and debris, with plastic items such as bottles and diapers increasingly common. Environmental groups and local officials quoted in the report linked the problem to weak waste treatment and flooding risks, while noting that Congo’s plastic-packaging ban and new cleanup initiatives have not yet solved the issue.

The story highlights a wider threat to an artisanal fishing tradition that supports many families and depends on the river’s health. It also provides context for why river pollution has become both an environmental and economic issue for the capital and nearby communities.