Authorities in Namayingo District have destroyed 1,820 pieces of illegal fishing gear confiscated during a crackdown on illegal fishing activities in parts of Lake Victoria.
The gear, valued at an estimated 6.5 billion shillings, was seized during a series of operations conducted this month by UPDF Marine forces at landing sites including Bugali, Lolwe, Maninga, Wakawaka and Sagiti in Port Victoria.
Speaking to fishermen at Gorofa on Lolwe Island, Lt. Innocent Awai, the UPDF Marine commander in charge of Battalion 155 in Namayingo, said the operations had also led to the arrest of 24 Kenyan nationals allegedly found fishing in Ugandan waters using illegal gear.
Awai warned that the next phase of the crackdown would target people manufacturing and supplying illegal fishing gear.
Lt. Ndifuna Leuben, the Jinja Sector Commander, said illegal fishing was having a significant impact on fish stocks and livelihoods in Uganda. He said that about 3,640,000 Nile perch are lost from Lake Victoria every month as a result of illegal fishing practices, contributing to declining fish stocks and the closure of several fish processing factories in the country. The closures, he said, have left thousands of Ugandans without employment. However, local fishermen say illegal fishing by foreign fishermen remains a major challenge.
Muhammad Kibinge, chairperson of the Namayingo District Fishermen’s Association, said Kenyan fishermen frequently cross into Ugandan waters and use illegal fishing gear, making it difficult for local fishermen who are trying to comply with government regulations. He appealed to the UPDF Marine forces stationed in the area to intensify efforts to curb the practice.
Some of the Kenyan fishermen arrested during the operation, however, attributed their presence in Ugandan waters to what they described as unclear boundaries on Lake Victoria.
Peter Awange, a Kenyan fisherman arrested by UPDF Marine forces, said some fishermen cross into different parts of the lake because they are uncertain about the exact boundary separating the two countries. He said the fishermen move around the lake in search of fish to support their families.
Another Kenyan suspect, Okile Odianga, questioned the confiscation of their fishing gear, saying they depend on fishing for their livelihoods. He called on the governments of Uganda and Kenya to first establish clear boundaries on the lake before carrying out enforcement operations against fishermen who cross into each other’s waters.
Namayingo Resident District Commissioner Emmy Mitala condemned the continued use of illegal fishing gear, warning fishermen against practices that threaten the sustainability of the lake’s fish stocks. He encouraged fishermen to diversify their sources of income by embracing cage fish farming-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
