Lake Victoria faced with closure over illegal fishing
Apr 01, 2009
Fishing on Lake Victoria may be banned by the end of this year if illegal fishing continues, the fisheries state minister, Fred Mukisa, said yesterday.
By Milton Olupot
Fishing on Lake Victoria may be banned by the end of this year if illegal fishing continues, the fisheries state minister, Fred Mukisa, said yesterday.
Mukisa said illegal fishing had affected the stocks of fish caught from the lake.
The minister told journalists at the Media Centre in Kampala that the council of ministers for the Lake Victoria Fisheries Organisation (LVFO) was alarmed by the declining stocks, especially of the Nile perch.
LVFO brings together Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania, who share the lake.
He said the ministers approved a zero tolerance measure to eradicate illegal fishing gear by December 2009.
They agreed that by June 2009, 50% of illegal fishing gear should be removed, Mukisa explained.
“The partner states are required to report quarterly on the progress of the actions implemented against illegal activities and positive results if any. If there is no improvement in the stocks, the lake will be closed to allow natural recovery of the ecosystem,†he said.
Mukisa was flanked by the assistant commissioner for regulation and control, Rhoda Tumwebaze, and the principal fisheries officer, Nsimbe Bulega.
Tumwebaze said the stocks had reduced from 1.9 million tonnes in 1999 to 382 tonnes in January this year.
Mukisa said Uganda was exploiting tilapia (ngege), mukene (one of the haplochromine species) and the Nile perch (mpuuta).
He said the ministry would sensitise the public on the dangers of capturing, trading in and even eating immature fish.
He called on district leaders, the Judiciary, and the security forces to participate in implementing sustainable fishing.
Mukisa said the ministry would carry out impromptu checks for compliance to fisheries laws.
This exercise, he said, would involve land and water patrols.
“I appeal to the communities to surrender all illegal fishing gear,†he said.
The minister said boats operating on the lake would soon be required to have number plates.
Fishing on Lake Victoria may be banned by the end of this year if illegal fishing continues, the fisheries state minister, Fred Mukisa, said yesterday.
Mukisa said illegal fishing had affected the stocks of fish caught from the lake.
The minister told journalists at the Media Centre in Kampala that the council of ministers for the Lake Victoria Fisheries Organisation (LVFO) was alarmed by the declining stocks, especially of the Nile perch.
LVFO brings together Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania, who share the lake.
He said the ministers approved a zero tolerance measure to eradicate illegal fishing gear by December 2009.
They agreed that by June 2009, 50% of illegal fishing gear should be removed, Mukisa explained.
“The partner states are required to report quarterly on the progress of the actions implemented against illegal activities and positive results if any. If there is no improvement in the stocks, the lake will be closed to allow natural recovery of the ecosystem,†he said.
Mukisa was flanked by the assistant commissioner for regulation and control, Rhoda Tumwebaze, and the principal fisheries officer, Nsimbe Bulega.
Tumwebaze said the stocks had reduced from 1.9 million tonnes in 1999 to 382 tonnes in January this year.
Mukisa said Uganda was exploiting tilapia (ngege), mukene (one of the haplochromine species) and the Nile perch (mpuuta).
He said the ministry would sensitise the public on the dangers of capturing, trading in and even eating immature fish.
He called on district leaders, the Judiciary, and the security forces to participate in implementing sustainable fishing.
Mukisa said the ministry would carry out impromptu checks for compliance to fisheries laws.
This exercise, he said, would involve land and water patrols.
“I appeal to the communities to surrender all illegal fishing gear,†he said.
The minister said boats operating on the lake would soon be required to have number plates.