Landing sites risk closure

Sep 28, 2008

Fisheries state minister Fred Mukisa has threatened to close all landing sites involved in illegal fishing.

By Ismael Kasooha

Fisheries state minister Fred Mukisa has threatened to close all landing sites involved in illegal fishing.

“I do not mind whether one or two landing sites are left as long as we get the tonnage we want from the lake. I will not hesitate to close all the landing sites where illegal fishing is carried out,” Mukisa said.

Mukisa was on Thursday addressing fishermen at Kabukanga landing site in Kibaale district. He also assessed the condition of the landing site, following an accident that claimed 18 people on Lake Albert on Wednesday.

Mukisa said the Beach Management Units should register all fishermen and nets used in the waters to root out illegal fishing.

He also ordered for measurement and recording of all fish weights at every landing site to help in detecting fish depletion.

“We dont want fishermen roaming every landing site. That is why our waters are being depleted quickly. All fishermen must be registered including their nets, time of departure, and tonnage landed,” Mukisa said.

He cautioned those operating on the lake to desist from over-loading the boats to avoid accidents.

Mukisa expressed sympathy to the bereaved families of those who perished on the lake.

Thirteen bodies were retrieved and the search for the remaining five bodies was still going on.

Mukisa said the Government would demarcate and regulate the boundary in the waters of Lake Albert to separate Uganda from the Democratic Republic of Congo.

He was responding to concerns raised by the fishermen that their counterparts in DRC were encroaching on Ugandan waters yet Ugandans were not allowed to cross to the other side.

The minister was accompanied by the resident district commissioner Kibaale, Hajji Ali Mutawe; the Lc5 chairman, George Namyaka, the district Police commander, Jamada Wandera and officials from the fisheries ministry.

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