By The government has expressed concern about immature fish entering the country through the Elegu border in the Amuru district. The Elegu border is shared between Uganda and Sudan
Minister of State for Fisheries, Hellen Adoa while addressing a press conference at the Uganda Media Centre expressed the government’s commitment to end this vice and also cautioned all those involved in illegal fishing that they risk facing an 8-year jail term
To arrest the bad habit of trading in immature fish, Adoa said they would work together with the South Sudanese government.
Minister Adoa noted that there is also a marked increase in the use of illegal fishing gear and methods among the fishing community in the country. Gears such as monofilament nets, undersized Gillette, and illegal methods such as “hurry up”, and cast netting among others, she says whoever is caught will face the wrath of the law.
She said that fishing of Mukene on the lakes will only be done using the scoop net method and will only be done during the dark phase of the month, which is about 14 days.
Three main types of small pelagic fish species harvested in uganda include Mukene, Ragoogi, and Muziri. Mukene is mainly found in Lake Victoria and Kyoga whereas Ragoogi and Muziri are on Lake Albert.
According to the minister, altogether the three types of small pelagic fish contribute more than 70 percent of the total fish caught in Uganda annually and employ more than 60 percent of the fishing communities who are involved in various activities along the fisheries value chain.
