Fish stocks threaten economy

Mar 15, 2010

FisherieS state minister Fred Mukisa has disclosed that fish stocks in Uganda’s lakes are dropping very fast.

By John B. Thawite

FisherieS state minister Fred Mukisa has disclosed that fish stocks in Uganda’s lakes are dropping very fast.

He added that if preventive measures are not taken, the result will be catastrophic.

Mukisa gave the warning while addressing district leaders in Kasese district last week.

He was on a consultative visit over the proposed three-month ban on fishing on Lake George.

He noted that fish stocks in Lake George had fallen from 20kg per boat per day about 12 years ago to less than 5kg currently.

Fish is one of Uganda’s leading foreign exchange earners.
He said the Government was setting up measures to protect fish stocks.

“We are looking at privatising the management of our inland lakes so that they can be tendered out and part of the revenue given back to local governments as loyalties,” he added.

He disclosed that Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania had agreed to raise $600,000 (sh12b) to clean up fisheries on operations out of Lake Victoria.

Mukisa said: “All boats are to be pulled off the lake out and issued licenses.”

He also said the ministry was lobbying the Government to remit 25% of the revenue from fish to districts as a conditional grant to fund fisheries activities.

However, the districts would be required to make work plans and budgets to qualify for the funds.

In an earlier report to the minister, the district fisheries officer, Boniface Bwambale, had attributed the fall in fish stocks on Lake Edward to overfishing and illegal fishing by Congolese fishermen.

He also attributed it to poor coordination among fisheries law enforcement organs, adding that the current sh10,000 was too small a fine for illegal fishing.

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