Govt plans fishermen regulation to keep fish stock 'afloat'

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The Government has announced plans to regulate the number of fishermen catching fish in specified areas and time frames.

The move, according to aquaculture and fisheries regulations commissioner Joseph Bwanika, will restore and ensure country's sustainable fish stock.

Bwanika revealed the development during a consultative meeting on the new proposed fishing regulations for central region stakeholders at the Aquaculture Research Development Centre (ARDC) in Kajjansi, Wakiso district on February 26, 2025.

"The regulations are coming under Section 120 of the 2023 Fisheries and Aquaculture Act, which directs the minister to put in place statutory instruments that will enable better implementation of the Act," Bwanika said.

The draft regulations include fishing capacity, methods of fishing, fish mow enforcement and community participation in fisheries management.

Call for organisation

Fisheries state minister Hellen Adoa emphasised the need for the fisheries industry to cite current disorganisation in the sector.

"Fishermen can be easy to manage when they are in groups. We need special fund to better organise the sector, " Adoa said.

Fisheries state minister Hellen Adoa emphasised the need for the fisheries industry to cite current disorganisation in the sector. (Photo by Hellen Adoa)

The minister also highlighted the challenges faced by fisheries protection unit and district fisheries officers in monitoring illegal activities due to limited funding which she said slow the progress.

"The fisheries protection unit is thin on the ground and district fisheries officers are not well-funded to monitor illegal activities.  We need to recognise the lake and ensure that fishermen are working in a sustainable manner," Adoa said.

Accordingly, the new regulations aim to address loopholes in the existing law and improve the management of fish resource.

"We got a new law in 2023, but it cannot work well without accompanying regulations. The new regulations will strengthen it for better protection," Adoa said.

She added that the fisheries sector is a significant contributor to the country's economy but its potential is being hindered by lack of regulations.

"The ministry of fisheries is second to coffee in terms of foreign exchange earnings. If we can organise our sector, we can increase the earnings and improve the livelihoods of fisheries, " she said.

Development welcomed

Fishermen have welcomed the new regulations with Micheal Ssebunya saying they will help elimination of illegal fishing methods.

"We support the new regulations because they will help us get rid of fishermen who use illegal fishing methods. This will improve the sustainability of our fish resources," Ssebunya said.

Ssebunya is a fish farmer in Kalangala district.

However, Joseph Kimera from Lambu landing site in Masaka district, expressed concerns about the implementation of regulations citing potential bribery and corruption.

"We are worried that the enforcers of the regulations may receive bribes from fishermen who use illegal methods. This will undermine the effectiveness of regulations," Kimera said, calling for streamlined funding.

Address importation of illegal fishing gear

Dr Papius Dias Tibihika, the head of ARDC, advised that the Government should penalise fishermen who import illegal fishing nets rather than just punishing the users.

"We need to address the root causes of the problem which is importation of illegal fishing nets. If we can stop the importation of these nets, we can reduce the use of illegal fishing methods," Tibihika said.

The new regulations come at a time when Uganda has registered a significant recovery in fish stocks, with the country aiming to achieve a sustainable yard of 700,000 metric tonnes of fish per year from across all water bodies.

For instance, according to data from the agricultural ministry, the country has made significant progress in rebuilding fish stocks with the current yard standing at 680,000 metric tonnes.

The recovery of fish stocks is attributed to the efforts of the Government and stakeholders to combat illegal fishing practices and the promoting of sustainable fishing methods.

In 2017, for instance, President Yoweri Museveni directed the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) to deploy on the Uganda's lakes to combat the illegal fishing methods and instead protect the fish resource.