At least five transport licenses of fishermen who have been operating illegally have been confiscated by Fisheries Protection Unit (FPU) during an operation aimed at restoring sanity in the fishing business.
The exercise was carried out in different markets that sell fish around Kampala and Entebbe.
Maj. Yero Muhoozi, the head of FPU, said that the operation was aimed at curbing illegal fishing which is currently on the rise adding that they have impounded close to 400 hundred kilogrammes of immature fish in these places.
“It is unfortunate that the illegal fishing gear is back on the lakes. The operation is one of the effort to fight illegal fishing, to fight illegal trading of immature fish. We went in these areas and we impounded immature fish, almost 300-400 kilogrammmes of immature fish, “he said.
He noted that they were also able to sensitise the masses on the best fishing practices.
“We checked through the licenses and of those transporters. We conducted an initiative of sensitising and educating those traders about the best fishing business practices, “he said.
Sarah Dungu Ibaale, the chairperson of Bugonga landing sites,urged fishermen to embrace good fishing methods which she said will help to produce good quality fish in the market.
“I would like to asked all the fishermen to begin using good method of fishing and to start using required gears which are supposed to be used on the lakes .Whenever we get immature fish ,we lose a lot of money, “she said.
She noted that if these fishermen continue to use bad fishing methods, the practice will affect the economy in the long run advising the government to empower the local fishing community committees to oversee activities on the lake instead of relying on the soldiers.
Illegal fishing, according to Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries involves using less than five-inch fishing nets for tilapia and less than seven-inch fishing nets for Nile Perch that results into the harvesting of immature fish that measures less than 11 inch and 20 inch in length, respectively.
It also entails using fishing boats that are less than 20 feet.
The government in March this year tabled the Fisheries and Aquaculture Bill, 2020, in which it has proposed deterrent punishments for people convicted of committing offenses related to illegal fishing and mismanagement of water bodies.
The Bill seeks to repeal the Fish Act, Cap 197 in order to regulate the fish industry.
The Bill, if passed into law proposes imprisonment of eight years without an option of a fine to any persons who will be convicted for use of explosions, firearms, any device capable of producing an electric current, and applying poison to catch fish.