Charles Moluwa Nzeni Masela, 71, is one of many in the Congolese capital of Kinshasa who has always made a living from the river. But now his nets are mostly made of plastic.
He can sell the trash to recyclers for 1,000 francs (4 kronor) per kilo - actually a better price than for fish, he tells AFP.
It's a shame it's gotten this far, but we have no choice," he told 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 ajar for the fish's return.
