The number of communal fish farmers was recorded as 1 798. The main motivation for fish farming in the communal sector is for subsistence, although cash income is also important. The commercial fish farmers are few and most of them have diversified larger agricultural operations by taking up fish farming. The largest quantities produced within commercial aquaculture are currently from tilapias and trout. There is effective demand for fish in both rural and urban areas.
People generally prefer fresh fish, unless it is kapenta.
However, the price of bream makes it unaffordable to lower income populations who mainly rely on dried or frozen kapenta for their fish consumption. Dried kapenta is consumed widely in rural areas. The distribution of fish is mainly linked to the Kariba fishery. Kapenta, particularly in its dried form, is the most widely distributed fish from the lake. Frozen fish is distributed mainly through the supermarket chains.