By Innocent Kiiza
Nile perch fish has become the backbone of Victoria lake zone, supporting thousands of people both locally and international indirectly since it the major fish export in country, but the fish is now on the point of extinction hence posing threat to one of the largest fresh Victoria waters, according to the acting Director fisheries, Resource in the ministry of Agriculture, Animal industry and fisheries Ms. Joyce Ikwaput Nyeko MAAIF.
Nile perch, which was introduced in the Victoria waters in 1950’s is said to be reducing at high rate due to acts of illegal fishing along the fishing sites.
Lake Victoria has a commercial fishery dominated by three species, Nile perch, Nile Tilapia and dagaa.
Data from the Directorate of fisheries Resources also shows that the total fish captures in Uganda fell by 14.6% from 461,730 tons in 2015 to 394,224 tons in 2016 and 2017 as result of the reduced catch of the Nile perch.
On the export front, fish volumes to the international market decreased from 18,785 tons in 2015 to 16,168 tons in 2016 and 2017 with the majority of the volumes destined to the European Union countries.
Nile perch export rose dramatically in Uganda between 1992 and 2004 up to date where different fish factories were developed on shores and area neighboring Victoria waters becoming a delicacy of the elite in European countries which is a mega source of fatty acids that help to check heart problems and high blood pressure.
Consequently, there has been a decline in export earnings from US$134.791 million approximately UG 483 Billion to US$407 Billion during the same period review
This prompted the Ministry of fisheries under Hon.Hellen Adoa who is in charge of fisheries to set tough guidelines to fish subsides and failure to do so the ministry will opt to close the lakes for 3 month starting in December
In the Ministries recommendations communique of five pages accessed by our reporter communicated as follows;
All Mukene fishers to use nets of mesh size 10mm and above and a maximum of 7 panels of 2 times 100 meters with a maximum of 4 lights.
All Nile perch must be gutted only at designated points within the landing site by a licensed person and fish maws extracted should be sold only to registered approved facilities.
All fish maw leaving the landing site must be accompanied with fish movement permit indicating the landing of origin, the quantity and destination processing facility.
All small boats 28ft to leave the lake immediately
All fish on transit should be checked at the border points by the fisheries inspector and URA should not seal the containers before they are inspected.
Failure to follow the set guidelines, the minister in charge of fisheries Hon.Hellen Adoa will have no option but to close the lakes for 3 months starting in December
The minister’s recommendations communique came after the fisheries protection unit-FPU and Uganda Revenue Authority –URA impounded close to 20 tons of immature fish at Mpondwe-Border Uganda-Congo Boarder.
According to the fisheries inspector at the Agriculture Ministry Innocent Mugabi said that majority of the fish impounded were undersized, that is less than ten inches instead of the recommendable size which is 20 inches for the Nile perch and six inches for the tilapia.
Responding on the how much the country loses in such acts if they are not combat in time, Director fisheries, Resource in the ministry of Agriculture, Animal industry and fisheries Ms. Joyce Ikwaput Nyeko, said that the country lose about US$52 million approximately UGS182 Billions of fish export annually due to illegal fishing activities on all Ugandan waters.
However, she added that the country can earn a minimum of US$156Billion from Nile perch in a year especially from its bladder, which a mega resource for fatty used on international market, which she notes costs UGS10million per kilogram.
She added that the resumption of illegal fishing activities on Lake Victoria, Kyoga, Edward, George and others after notable reduction in the last three years midst the deployment of UPDF Fisheries Protection Unit.
Currently, the UPDF Fisheries Protection Unit which was presides over by President Museveni in January is struggling to enforce operation against illegal fishing in Ugandan waters with little success.
