Over 2,000 illegal fishing boats burnt on Lake Albert

Hoima, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | More than 2,000 illegal fishing boats have been set ablaze by the Fisheries Protection Unit-FPU in a new operation against illegal fishing gear being conducted on the Lake Albert waters.

The operation that started early this month has also seen 15,590 monofilament nets impounded and destroyed by the Fisheries Protection Unit-FPU. The illegal fishing gear was impounded during various operations in Buliisa, Hoima, Kikuube, Kagadi and Ntoroko districts under the Command of Lt. Colonel Dick Kaija, the Commandant of the Fisheries Protection Unit.

Now, Lieutenant Lauben Ndifula, the spokesperson of the Fisheries Protection Unit told Uganda Radio Network on Monday that they have been able to destroy 2,093 illegal fishing boats and 15,590 monofilament nets ever since the new operation was launched early this month. He added that 4,000 illegal hooks,1,942 solar bulbs and 299 solar batteries that were being used illegally by the fishermen have also been confiscated.

The most affected fishermen are from Butiaba, Walukuba and Bugoigo landing sites in Buliisa district, Kijangi, Fofo and Kaiso in Hoima district, Kitebere and Ndaiga landing sites in Kagadi district, Nkondo, Bugoma and Busiki in Kikuube district while others are Ntoroko district.

According to Ndifula, the operations that are ongoing are aimed at strengthening national capacities to eliminating illegal fishing and increasing protection of trans-boundary resources. He adds that the operations will continue to cover all the landing sites on Lake Albert until all illegal fishing activities are stopped.

Ndifula says all fishermen operating on Lake Albert have one week to acquire the recommended fishing gear. Illegal fishing, according to the 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. It also entails using fishing boats that are less than 20 feet in length.

But Joy Kyaligonza, a woman dealing in fishing wants the government to avail them with loans to quickly acquire the recommended fishing gear. Many of the fishermen say that the recommended fishing boat costs more than 3.5 million Shillings while boat engines cost between 5 million and 9 million Shillings.

John Opar, a fisherman at Butiaba landing site in Buliisa district who is one of the locals whose boat was destroyed said fishing has been his mainstay over the years and destroying his fishing boat will push him out of business.

Similarly, Pius Wakabi, the Bugahya County Member of Parliament says that the fishermen should have been given ample time to prepare since the lake is their only source of survival. Lake Albert employs approximately 56,000 fishermen who harvest more than 100,000 tons of fish per year. Overall, fishing supports the livelihood of more than 1.6 million people in Uganda.

Over the last 15 years, the fisheries sector has played an important social and economic role in the country as one of the key foreign exchange-earners, contributing 2.6 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and 12 per cent to agricultural GDP.

*****

URN