Security persons protect immature fish dealers

May 10, 2013

Today we interview state minister for fisheries, Ruth Nankabirwa on the challenges of policing the sector

Timbiti Watuwa

trueUntil World Environment Day, June 5, in a campaign, Save Lake Victoria, Vision Group media platforms is running investigative articles, programmes and commentaries highlighting the irresponsible human activities threatening the world’s largest fresh water lake.Today we interview state minister for fisheries, Ruth Nakabirwa on the challenges of policing the sector.

 

How has the fisheries sector changed since you took over?

The sector was full of open capturing and trading in immature fish as if there were no enforcement teams in place. Although aware that it was illegal, people were not afraid of dealing in immature fi sh. Trucks would carry immature fish in broad daylight.

Now we have created awareness regarding immature fishing, trading and transporting and all the people involved are aware of our hunters on lakes throughout the country.

As a result, some dealers have changed the mode of transporting immature fish, for instance, in coffins and metallic cases. Others pack them in saloon cars or wrap them up in mattresses.

We have continued to seize illegal nets. For a year now, with the help of the local leaders, we have burnt 300 seine nets (kokota) on Lake Albert.

 

What is the relevance of the sector to Uganda’s economy?

More than 1.2 million people entirely depend on fishing. Secondly, Uganda is the only country in the region privileged to export fish to the European Union (EU). Fish is the second highest foreign exchange earner, next to coffee, bringing over  $140m and locally, those dealing in fishing earn about sh800b annually.

 

What is the projected revenue if all prescribed good fishing practices are implemented? 

At one time in 2005 we got $142m from fish exports. It later came down to $80m, but it is growing again.

All that revenue came from capture fishing. If we enhance farmed fishing the figure can double.                                                                             

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

Fish stocks especially in Lake Victoria, have dwindled. Any restorative measures?

We have to control the number of boats on the waters by registering and licensing all the boats. We are working on introducing vessel identification number plates. This will make it easy to trace illegalities. We also need to amend the Fish Act and the Beach Management Unit Statute to make the rules more stringent..

Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are the major markets for immature fish. Are you aware of this?

Rwanda takes mature fresh fish. I am aware of DRC being a market for immature fish because Congolese eat salted fish much of which is got from Lake Victoria. Bilateral efforts between Uganda and DRC authorities to contain the problem have not materialised as the case is with Kenya and Tanzania. We have to ensure that the source is controlled tightly to kill the DRC market.

                                                                                                      

Is there a coordination between the fisheries ministry and Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) on smuggled nets?

We have a national task force in the fisheries ministry and URA is a member, but the gap that is there is because the standards for the required fish nets had not been worked on by the Uganda National Bureau of Standards. However, the standards are being worked on and once set, we will hand them to URA for enforcement. But even in the absence of the standards, the Fish Act bans monofilament nets, but they were not included on the URA list of banned goods.

How about the beach management units which should enforce legal fishing and practices?

They get compromised because they work in the areas of birth and where they have married. Because they fear victimisation, for instance, destruction of their property, they abandon the enforcement and instead join the illegalities. Now I use people from other areas to work in certain places.

What do you think about establishing a fisheries authority?

I support the idea of a fisheries authority. It would see us lay emphasis on regulation and it would probably secure more funding to ensure continued monitoring of the fisheries resources.

What constitutes acceptable or legal fishing?

Good fishing is about specific sizes of nets for Tilapia and the Nile Perch. One should know this before they even get in the lake. The sizes were scientifically determined by researchers to ensure that by the time fish is caught, it has produced generations of fish. The area of the lake where you fish also matter. Some areas are protected for breeding and it does not matter whether you have the right nets or not.

The influx of illegal  fishnets is threatening the only legal fish manufacturer in Uganda. What is your take on this?

If we succeed in securing loans (working on one from China) in kind for legal nets and distribute them at landing sites, then the manufacturer will be safe, coupled with intensification of monitoring from us and URA to ensure that monofilaments do not come in and the manufacturers sales will increase.

Any incentives in place to protect players in the fisheries business the acceptable way?

Those doing things the right way are being victimised by cutting their good nets. But, we shall continue arresting those with the bad nets. It is a battle that requires many departments, for instance, the Police and the Judiciary to fight the impunity.

Do you think Ugandans perceive fish as an invaluable resource?

People do know the value of fish and the lake. A cross-section of them have expressed concerns about the depletion of the fish in the lakes. However, others do not care.

Can any object work as a fish bait or are there recommended baits in Uganda?

We discourage catching young fish and using it as baits. But some species of fish such as the enkeje (naturally small) is acceptable as a bait for those using hooks to fish.

A policy of ‘Zero Tolerance’ to illegal _fishing was adopted and a directive from the council of ministers (2009) required that 50% of illegalities be removed by June 2009 and 100% by December 2009. How much of this projection have you scored?

That resolution was supposed to be accompanied by logistics which did not due to lack of funds. Countries were supposed to contribute $600,000 to Lake Victoria Management Organisation for joint operations to score that roadmap and Uganda has contributed about two thirds of its share.

Who should carry out fishing on the lakes?

Every Ugandan is free if they have the requirements. You pay sh100,000 and foreigners sh2m for a fishing licence. You should have the right nets and the boat must be of specific standards, for instance, scooped canoes are not allowed because they easily invade the breeding areas.

By the look of things, dealing in immature fish does not seem a risky venture, right?

We have sent many people to prison and many have lost money in terms of the seized fish we distribute to the people. Sometimes trucks carrying fish have been auctioned through court orders to enable government recover money spent in carrying out the operations.
 

The fishing rules are in place and enforcement officers almost everywhere, but there is continued inflow of truck-loads of immature fish to Congo, where is the loophole?

The loophole is with the enforcement. For instance, my operatives are not armed and since they are civilians, they cannot mount roadblocks and getting the Police to seal off the roads is not easy. We have had cases where Police patrol fellows whom we got to help tip the truck drivers of arrests.

How about the claim that immature fish trade is profitable, thus susceptible to racket operations of the politically and militarily connected?

Yes, young fish brings in a lot of money and it is a risky business. So those who can risk either have power or the guns. It was worse before I came in, sometimes trucks would be escorted by the Police or somebody in an army uniform including personal body guards of senior UPDF officers, but I intervened and this stopped, although sometimes I get interferences from some of my colleagues and call the defence minister to intervene. On two occasions two UPDF officers have been punished.

With the illegalities in the fishing methods, where does that leave the quality of our  fish?

We are sensitive on sanitation and quality because we secured a licence to take our fish to the EU and every year we receive inspectors from the EU food and veterinary office. It is the locally sold fish that is poorly handled and transported.

Experts say if Lake Victoria is allowed to fallow for six months, the fish stocks would resuscitate to sustain the fishing industry for the next 300 years.

Complete fallowing of Lake Victoria is not possible because enforcement would be difficult on such a wide area. Maybe phased fallowing of selected areas, open them up and fallow others.

What options would you propose for those who currently depend on fishing for their livelihoods?

Cage fishing is the way to go and for island populations in Kalangala and Buvuma there is the alternative of the palm oil project. Those in the palm oil project in Kalangala are already reaping and a similar project is to be introduced in Buvuma.

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});