Abandoned fish farms pose environmental risks, experts warn

Experts from Makerere University College of Natural Sciences have expressed concern over the alarming number of abandoned fish farms in Uganda. Speaking at a multi-stakeholder meeting in Mukono, Dr Ronald Semyalo, a lecturer of Zoology, Entomology, and Fisheries Sciences, revealed that 60 per cent of fish farms established after the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020 have been abandoned.
"Lack of knowledge, technical support, and expensive feeds have led to this abandonment, which poses a significant environmental risk," Dr. Semyalo warned. Out of 380 registered farms in three districts (Buikwe, Buvuma, and Jinja), only 40 per cent remain active, with the rest abandoned due to high feed costs.
Dr Semyalo emphasized the need for farmers to understand environmental management regulations and laws to avoid losses. "Many farmers lack awareness of environmental requirements, and we need to update them as the environment changes," he said.
The study aimed to identify measures to mitigate the environmental effects of aquaculture and policy gaps. Dr Jerome Sebaduka Lugumira from the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) stressed the need for submissions to include required approvals from relevant authorities. He also emphasized the importance of technical officers skilled in fisheries sciences in the assessment process.
District Fisheries Officer James Katali from Buikwe district criticized NEMA for lack of proper coordination during inspections, highlighting the need for technical handling of issues. "We face challenges with NEMA officials during inspections, and yet we are the ones on the ground," he said. Katali also noted the difficulty in balancing the economy and environment in aquaculture production.
The meeting aimed to find solutions to mitigate environmental pollution from aquaculture in the Lake Victoria Basin.