2,000 immature fish burnt
Jun 03, 2003
About two tonnes of immature fish valued at some sh3m was on Monday set ablaze by officials of the law enforcement unit of the fisheries department, Entebbe
By Emmy Olaki
About two tonnes of immature fish valued at some sh3m was on Monday set ablaze by officials of the law enforcement unit of the fisheries department, Entebbe.
Yasin Matovu, the officer in charge of the unit said all the fish in the consignment was below the required length.
Most of the fish seen by The New Vision was seven inches long for tilapia instead of 20 and five inches for Nile perch instead of standard eleven.
“We usually dispose-off this fish as we dim it fit. Most times we give to the prisons departments and to other needy people. But this is too immature and the law requires that we we burn it,†Matovu said.
He said the fish, which had started growing maggots, was salted.
He salted fish is not usually consumed in Uganda.
Matovu said the fish and the culprits, Hassan Kayizi and Asuman Juma who are in jail were apprehended in Bushenyi district on their way to the Democratic Republic of Congo, (DRC).
“In Congo, this fish would have fetched about sh8m,†Matovu said.
He described the culprits as perpetual offenders of the Fish Act which prohibits sell of young fish.
About two tonnes of immature fish valued at some sh3m was on Monday set ablaze by officials of the law enforcement unit of the fisheries department, Entebbe.
Yasin Matovu, the officer in charge of the unit said all the fish in the consignment was below the required length.
Most of the fish seen by The New Vision was seven inches long for tilapia instead of 20 and five inches for Nile perch instead of standard eleven.
“We usually dispose-off this fish as we dim it fit. Most times we give to the prisons departments and to other needy people. But this is too immature and the law requires that we we burn it,†Matovu said.
He said the fish, which had started growing maggots, was salted.
He salted fish is not usually consumed in Uganda.
Matovu said the fish and the culprits, Hassan Kayizi and Asuman Juma who are in jail were apprehended in Bushenyi district on their way to the Democratic Republic of Congo, (DRC).
“In Congo, this fish would have fetched about sh8m,†Matovu said.
He described the culprits as perpetual offenders of the Fish Act which prohibits sell of young fish.