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Following a decline in stock of small fish species such as Silver Fish aka Mukene and the young Nile Perch, the Government has banned the use of the Hurry Up fishing method, being used to harvest fish on Lake Victoria, Kyoga, and Albert.

The ban was announced by the fisheries state minister Hellen Adoa while addressing the media at the Uganda Media Centre in Kampala on Tuesday.

“With the Hurry Up method, fishmen use big fishnet sizes that cover a large surface area to harvest everything in the lake that the net comes across. In the process, young Nile perch alongside pelagic or small fishes like silverfish are harvested and also the Nile tilapia,” Adoa said.

She added that although it is operated in the open waters, it mainly targets the younger Nile Perch.

“So, the decision on the ban of this fishing method has been taken given the magnitude of its destruction to the Nile Perch fishery. We have noted that three-quarters of the catch from this fishing method will consist of juvenile Nile Perch,” Adoa said.

The three types of Pelagic small fish family are Mukene, Ragoogi, and Muziri. Mukene is mainly found in lakes Victoria and Kyoga whereas Ragoogi and Muziri are on Lake Albert.

“I hereby instruct the fisheries enforcement agencies to arrest anybody caught using the "hurry up" fishing method. In our new fisheries Act, we have a law that we shall use to punish the culprits,” she added.

Earnings from fisheries

According to Daisy Olyel, the assistant commissioner for fisheries, in charge of enforcement in the new fisheries Act, those found using illegal fishing gear like Hurry up method will be fined 1,000 currency points, which amounts to shillings 2,000,000. Each currency point is equivalent to shillings 20,000.

Daisy Olyel Aciro, Assistant Commissioner for Enforcement addresses journalists during a press conference at Uganda Media Centre on February 13, 2024. (All photos by Mary Kansiime)

In terms of earnings, Olyel added that Uganda earns $158m per annum (about shillings 610 billion) of this amount; small fisheries such as Mukene, Ragoogi, and Muziri contribute about $30m (about shillings 116 billion).

Apart from saving the fish species for reproduction, Olyel explained that the three small fish species contribute to 70% of the total fish catches in Uganda’s water bodies, and employ 60% of the country’s population.

In terms of nutrition, she said silver supports the livelihoods of many people in terms of nutrition because it is the cheapest source of protein, has omega-3 oils that are essential for bone health, and boasts immunity but is also a source of employment.

Way forward

To save the silverfish, the ministry also advised on when silverfish can be harvested. Silverfish should be harvested in the dark, and that is two weeks a month when there is no moonlight.

“The idea is to promote sustained fishing. If silverfish are harvested during the day time or when there is moonlight, other fish species like the young Nile perch of tilapia are also harvested because mukene tends to mix up and further hide,” Olyel added.

Enforcement

Despite the increase in illegal fishing gear on the country’s water bodies, the Government is hesitant to increase deployment of the army on the water bodies.

According to the Adoa, the intention of deploying soldiers was to back up enforcement officers here being undermined by bad elements, especially from neighboring countries.

“We took a long to add more soldiers on the lake because their work is not to deny people fish but because there were so many bad elements, in the Lake who would just steal from our fishermen, beat them, and run away with their catches including boats and destruction of water bodies was too much,” she explained.

Additionally, although plans are underway to deploy more army officers, focus will be on making bodies like the Association of Fish and Laker Users and landing site committees, among others will be empowered to work along with the army.