The minister of state for fisheries under the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry, and Fisheries(MAAIF) Hon. Adoa Hellen has come up with measures to reduce on the imminent collapse of the Nile perch Fishery and closure of factories after witnessing a decline of the Nile perch and in turn leading to a decline of fish going to factories from 30,465.6 tons in 2020 to 8000tons by June 2021.
While addressing the press on Friday, the minister noted a decline in the Nile perch going to factories over time which will lead to closure of the factories.
Although the Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF) and Fisheries Protection Unit (FPU) had come on board to curb illegal fishing, which led to a slight increase in fish in the lake, the available fish is till far less for the domestic and international demand.
The Minister however noted that with the security forces on the lake, the Nile perch population had increased slightly enabling factories to do business.
“Since the coming on board of the FPU and the continued self monitoring initiative by the industry under Uganda Fish Processors and Exporters Assosiation (UFPEA) there was noticeable recovery of Nile Perch stocks in the lake and this led to reopening of some of the factories that had closed”. She said.
Adoa added that the reopening of factories also led to an increase of operating factories from 6 in 2016 to 12 in 2019.
During the period of November 2015 to February 2017, a sharp increase in fishing illegalities was registered leading to decline in fish catches and hence a decline of fish supply to factories from 29,544 tons in 2015 to 19,447 tons in 2016.
In 2017, there was a slight increase to 23,141.5 tons following a deployment of the FPU which further increased in the next two years to 41,324 tons in 2018 and 57,409.6 tons in 2019.
The pandemic led to a sharp decline in fish from 30,465.6 tons in 2020 to just 8000 tons shaking the factory business threatening closure of all factories since they are now operating at less than 10% installed capacity.
As a way forward, the ministry put up a number of measures to help in the increase of fish going to factories after observing that illegal fishing gear was used, use of unlisenced boats and indiscimimated gutting of Nile Perch for thier lucrative fish maws, smuggling the perch to Tanzania for fish maw extraction among other causes.
After a meeting with with some stakeholders, it was resolved that with effect 1st October 2021, all small boats below 28ft leave the lake immediately, all Nile perch Fishers use gill nets of a maximum of 3 panels , those dealing in maw must obtain it from designated points, all maw leaving landing site should be accompanied with a fish movement permit, FPU to deploy at all boarder points to check on entry of illegal gears and exit of immature fish and for fish in transit to be checked at the boarder points by the fisheries inspectors and for URA not to seal any containers before inspection.
The Minister warned of closure of the lake for 3 months starting December 2021 if fishers fail to abide by the set gudlines.
