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Fishermen protest closure of 8 landing sites
Boats tied up at Senero, one of the landing sites closed due to illegal fishing. PHOTO/SLYVESTER SSEMUGENYI
What you need to know:
Mr Daniel Kaweesi, a fisherman at Misonzi Landing site in Bufumira Sub County said they are left with no alternative, but instead to quit the fishing business given the misery they have endured over the years.
A section of fishermen in the island district of Kalangala have protested the continuous closure of eight landing sites by the Fisheries Protection Unit (FPU) over alleged illegal fishing.
They say the enforcers of fishing standards lost direction on how their operations ought to be conducted as they embarked on halting fishing activities on selected landing sites instead of arresting the culprits.
The affected landing sites include; Banga, Senero, Lujaabwa, Misonzi, Buyiri,Kaazi-Malanga, Njoga and Kagolomolo in Mugoye Sub County which have so far been closed in a space of one week.
Mr Daniel Kaweesi, a fisherman at Misonzi Landing site in Bufumira Sub County said they are left with no alternative, but instead to quit the fishing business given the misery they have endured over the years.
“We really wonder why they [FPU] choose to close the landing sites rather than arresting individuals engaging in illegal fishing” Mr Kaweesa said during an interview on Sunday.
Ms Brenda Nakawunde at Lujaabwa landing site said they were given permits to smoke fish, but when soldiers under FPU storm the area they confiscate the fish over claims that they cannot differentiate illegal fish when smoked.
“We derive our livelihoods from fishing and not all us engage in illegal fishing .Why do we always be blamed for crimes committed by unscrupulous fishers?.” She asked
“We abandoned illegal fishing long time ago, let our landing site be reopened and we operate;” Mr Robert Ssebalamu, another fish trader at Banga landing site said.
Ms Sam Mpozza, a member of the Beach Management Committee at Kagolomolo landing site, said they are not involved in most of the operations carried out by FPU yet they can help the soldiers identify fishermen engaging in illegal fishing.
“To our surprise, the soldiers just descend on landing sites and announce closure, which is unfair,”he said.
Kalangala District Chairperson, Mr Rajab Ssemakula, said government should put emphasis on preventing illegal fishing gears from entering into the country.
“If they [government] stops importation of illegal nets and other fishing gears, the fishermen will not have access to them,” he said.
Capt. Eric Muhangi, the FPU commandant in Kalangala District, said the affected landing sites were not completely closed but they simply halted fishing activities.
“We have only halted fishing activities at such landing sites; other businesses are still operating normally. Even the fishermen will be allowed to resume work if they voluntarily surrender their illegal fishing gears to us,” Mr Muhangi said, adding “ At Banga and Buyiri where fishermen have handed over the illegal gears, they are free to resume normal operations.”
In various districts around Lake Victoria like Kyotera, Masaka, Kalungu , Kalangala, Buikwe and Mukono, some landing sites have remained closed since 2017. They were closed on account of operating illegally. In Kalangala District, Kafuna landing site has remained for four years.
