In an effort to combat illegal indiscriminate fishing along Uganda’s water bodies, the Minister of State for Fisheries Hon. Hellen Adoa has banned catching of Mukene, Muziri and Ragoogi Species during day time and in the period when there’s moonlight.
The ban starts with immediate effect and fishermen are restricted to do the activity only 14 days a week and according to the minister, this is done to stop the catching of other species which are immature for instance Nile perch and Nile tilapia are easily trapped during the process.
Mrs. While addressing reporters at Media Centre explained that during day time Nile perch ant Nile tilapia are attracted by light which is also the case when there’s moonlight and this prompted the ban so as to conserve such species.
She also ordered fishermen who are dealing in catching of fish to be going 2 mile deep in the waters to avoid the areas near banks of water bodies, use fishing nets of 10mm for Mukene and 8mm for Ragoogi caught from lakes Albert and Kyoga respectively.
This follows confiscation of trucks from South Sudan that were carry immature fish to Uganda’s market yet the policy here prohibits the catching of such fish for better management and conservation to a void their extinct.
“ We confiscated South Sudan trucks carrying immature fish because our law prohibits dealing in such and we can’t separate it from that being caught from our waters.’’ Mrs.. Explained.
She further said that the Uganda’s technical team is already engaging her counterpart from S. Sudan to forge on a way how this indiscriminate fishing can be combated along river Nile and at policy level the minister is yet to contact the line authorities in the north neighbouring country.
In Uganda the Fisheries and Aquaculture Act 2022 asserts that is an individual has been caught in the acts of catching immature fish or dealing in such, upon conviction is liable of serving a maximum sentence not exceeding eight (8) in prison. While is some is caught using prohibited fishing gears like poisoning, explosive fire-arms is liable of paying a fine of 1000 currency notes ( Ugx 2000,000).
Although the fishing community have been crying foul play by the army that was deployed along fishing water bodies, the minister hailed them for carrying good work because they managed to curb down the insecurity that was occurring in the waters and they also arrest criminals and recovered a total of 11 guns.
She called upon the local leaders in such area to be vigilant and help security agencies in combating illegal fishing because it’s menace not only to government but also to their communities.
The Director Fisheries in the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fishers Mr. Mukasa Tom Bukenya said that in an effort to combat illegal fishing, the ministry is also organizing two projects aimed at empowering the youth and the entire fishing community so as to encourage then diversify their economic activity.
Mr. Bukenya also said that the Climate Smart is in advanced stages in Kalangala and Mpigi and in this particular project the youth and women will be trained in fish farming and after they will be given inputs like cages and others in groups.
He called upon leaders at all levels to mobilize these people such that they can be trained and be given an alternative activity so as to encourage them to abandon the illegal fishing that cause loss of food nutrition, employment opportunities and government tax revenue.
The Assistant commissioner Fisheries in charge of enforcement Ms.Daisy Oriel Asilo said that Uganda earns USD 160 million per annum where Mukene and other small pelagic fish species contribute between USD 28-30m fish exports and about 70% of people around water bodies derive their livelihood from fishing activity especially the youth.
By George Bukenya
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