Uganda to produce 320,000 tons of farmed fish
Jan 20, 2010
IN the next two to three years, Uganda aims at producing 320,000 tonnes of farmed fish per annum, the state minister for fisheries, Fred Mukisa, has said.
By John Kasozi
IN the next two to three years, Uganda aims at producing 320,000 tonnes of farmed fish per annum, the state minister for fisheries, Fred Mukisa, has said.
He was speaking to stakeholders in the fish farming sector at the third annual fish farmers symposium and aqua-culture trade fair at the Uganda Manufacturers Association (UMA) conference hall at Lugogo in Kampala. The three-day conference, organised by Walimi Fish Farmers Co-operative Society, was convened to discuss the challenges of building the aqua-culture industry in Uganda.
“For the last four to five years, the fish farming sector has struggled to reach 80,000 tonnes per annum of farmed fish. The share of farmed fish is increasing,†Mukisa said, adding that the country still faced a problem of poor fishing methods.
“The fish stocks in lakes have dwindled. At the beginning of February, fishermen on Lake George will not be allowed to catch fish in the lake for 90 days,†he said. He also said the Uganda Wildlife Authority had already put a ban on fishing in Kazinga channel and “hopefully after the period, there will be an increase in fish stocksâ€.
“Lake Kyoga’s fish stocks have also declined. But stakeholders around the lake are organising to salvage the lake by stamping out illegal fishing activities,â€he said.
He added that ministers from the three countries sharing Lake Victoria met and discussed closing down the lake to fishing but postponed it.
“We shall revisit the idea and the operation will be called “Save Nile Perch†aimed at eliminating illegal fishing in the lake,†Mukisa said. “We appeal to fishermen to regulate themselves as Mukono fishermen have done, to thwart the bad fishing practices,†Mukisa added.
“The eastern and northern regions have been chosen as strategic areas for fish farming by the cabinet. These regions were earmarked as fish farming zones in the 60s. What remains now is to de-silt the fish ponds dug at that time,†he said.
Mukisa said the main problem facing fish farming in Uganda was technical know-how. “The resources needed to practice it are in plenty like water and fish species unlike Egypt that faces a water scarcity problem.â€
“I appeal to researchers at National Fisheries Resources Research Institute in Jinja and Aquaculture Research and Development Centre (ARDC) at Kajjansi to research on our 300 fish species that are extinct as well as the threatened ones like the riverine Ningu (Labeo victorianus), Kisinja (Barbus spp), Nkolongo (Synodontis spp) and Kasulu (Mormyrids),†he said.
“They were highly cherished dishes, but have either disappeared or their populations have been reduced to uneconomic levels due to unsustainable fishing practices. Please make these high-value fish available,†Mukisa pleaded.
He said China had agreed to give technical support to ARDC and whatever is put up at Kajjansi will be used for demonstration and training. Mukisa told the farmers that oil proceeds will be used to improve agriculture.
IN the next two to three years, Uganda aims at producing 320,000 tonnes of farmed fish per annum, the state minister for fisheries, Fred Mukisa, has said.
He was speaking to stakeholders in the fish farming sector at the third annual fish farmers symposium and aqua-culture trade fair at the Uganda Manufacturers Association (UMA) conference hall at Lugogo in Kampala. The three-day conference, organised by Walimi Fish Farmers Co-operative Society, was convened to discuss the challenges of building the aqua-culture industry in Uganda.
“For the last four to five years, the fish farming sector has struggled to reach 80,000 tonnes per annum of farmed fish. The share of farmed fish is increasing,†Mukisa said, adding that the country still faced a problem of poor fishing methods.
“The fish stocks in lakes have dwindled. At the beginning of February, fishermen on Lake George will not be allowed to catch fish in the lake for 90 days,†he said. He also said the Uganda Wildlife Authority had already put a ban on fishing in Kazinga channel and “hopefully after the period, there will be an increase in fish stocksâ€.
“Lake Kyoga’s fish stocks have also declined. But stakeholders around the lake are organising to salvage the lake by stamping out illegal fishing activities,â€he said.
He added that ministers from the three countries sharing Lake Victoria met and discussed closing down the lake to fishing but postponed it.
“We shall revisit the idea and the operation will be called “Save Nile Perch†aimed at eliminating illegal fishing in the lake,†Mukisa said. “We appeal to fishermen to regulate themselves as Mukono fishermen have done, to thwart the bad fishing practices,†Mukisa added.
“The eastern and northern regions have been chosen as strategic areas for fish farming by the cabinet. These regions were earmarked as fish farming zones in the 60s. What remains now is to de-silt the fish ponds dug at that time,†he said.
Mukisa said the main problem facing fish farming in Uganda was technical know-how. “The resources needed to practice it are in plenty like water and fish species unlike Egypt that faces a water scarcity problem.â€
“I appeal to researchers at National Fisheries Resources Research Institute in Jinja and Aquaculture Research and Development Centre (ARDC) at Kajjansi to research on our 300 fish species that are extinct as well as the threatened ones like the riverine Ningu (Labeo victorianus), Kisinja (Barbus spp), Nkolongo (Synodontis spp) and Kasulu (Mormyrids),†he said.
“They were highly cherished dishes, but have either disappeared or their populations have been reduced to uneconomic levels due to unsustainable fishing practices. Please make these high-value fish available,†Mukisa pleaded.
He said China had agreed to give technical support to ARDC and whatever is put up at Kajjansi will be used for demonstration and training. Mukisa told the farmers that oil proceeds will be used to improve agriculture.