By Prossy Nandudu
Following a decline in small fish species like Silver Fish commonly known as Mukene and the young Nile perch, the government has banned the use of the Hurry Up fishing method, being used to harvest fish on Lake Victoria, Kyoga and Albert.
The ban was announced by the Minister of State for Fisheries, Hellen Adoa while addressing the press at the Uganda Media center on Tuesday.
“With the Hurry Up method, fishmen use big fishnet sizes that cover a large surface area to harvest everything in the lake that the net comes across. In the process, younger Nile perch alongside pelagic or small fishes like silver fish are harvested and also Nile tilapia,” Adoa explained.
She added that although it is operated in the open waters, it mainly targets the younger Nile perch. “So, the decision on the ban of this fishing method has been taken given the magnitude of its destruction to the Nile perch fishery. We have noted that three quarters of the catch from this fishing method will consist of juvenile Nile perch fish,” Adoa said.
The three types of Pelagic small fish family include Mukene, Ragoogi and Muziri. Mukene is mainly found in Lake Victoria and Kyoga whereas Ragoogi and Muziri are on Lake Albert.
“I hereby instruct the fisheries enforcement agencies to arrest anybody caught using the ‘’hurry up’’ fishing method. In our new fisheries act, we have a law that we shall use to punish the culprits,” she added.
Earnings from fisheries
According to Daisy Olyel the assistant commissioner for fisheries, in charge of enforcement in the new fisheries act, those found using illegal fishing gear like Hurry up method will be fined 1000 currency points which amounts to sh2000,000. 1000 currency points is equivalent to sh20,000.
In terms of earnings, Olyel added that Uganda earns $158m per annum (about sh610bn) of this amount; small fisheries like Mukene, Ragoogi and Muziri contribute about $30M (about sh116bn).
Apart from saving the fish species for reproduction, Olyel explained that the three small fish species contribute to 70% of the total fish catches in Uganda’s water bodies, and employs 60% of the country’s population.
In terms of nutrition, she said silver supports the livelihoods of many people in terms of nutrition, because it is the cheapest source of protein, has omega 3 oils that are essential for borne health, boasts immunity but also a source of employment.
Way forward.
To save the silver fish, the ministry also advised on when silver fish can be harvested. Silver fish should be harvested in the dark, and that is two weeks in a month, when there is no moonlight.
“The idea is to promote sustained fishing. If silver fish is harvested during the day time or when there is moonlight, other fish species like the young Nile perch of tilapia are also harvested because mukene tends to mix up and further hide,” Olyel added.
Enforcement
Despite the increase in illegal fishing gear on the country’s water body, the government is hesitant on increasing deployment of the army on the water bodies.
According to the Adoa, the intention of deploying soldiers was to back up enforcement officers here being undermined by bad elements especially from neighboring countries.
“We took a long to add more soldiers on the lake because their work is not to deny people fish but because there were so many bad elements, in the Lake who would just steal from our fishermen, beat them and run away with their catches including boats and destruction of water bodies was too much,” she explained.
Adding that although plans are underway to deploy more army officers, focus will be on making bodies like the Association of Fish and Laker Users (AFALU), Landing site Committees among others will be empowered to work along with the army.
