FPU destroys immature fish worth over a billion shillings in Masaka
PFU personnel burning illegal fishing gears at Ddimo landing site on October 23,2023 PHOTO/ANTONIO KALYANGO
What you need to know:
- The FPU sector commander Lt. Bernard Bahingana said their operations are to continue until they curb the vice of trading in immature fish.
The Fisheries Protection Unit (FPU) under the Uganda Peoples Defense Forces (UPDF) has destroyed more than 2,000 kilogrammes of immature fish and illegal fishing gear impounded during their various operations in Greater Masaka .
According to Lt. Emmanuel Muchunguzi, the Public Relations Officer for Greater Masaka FPU Sector, they intercepted this immature fish on different routes from landing sites around Lake Victoria before reaching markets.
“The destroyed immature fish and if it had been harvested after making the required size would generate over Shs1 billion which would go into national treasury” he said during the burning of impounded immature fish and illegal fishing gear at Ddimo Landing site on October 23.
He further explained that during their operations two suspects were arrested, arraigned before court and later remanded.
The FPU sector commander Lt. Bernard Bahingana said their operations are to continue until they curb the vice of trading in immature fish.
“We have been arresting fishermen and fishmongers who are specialising in catching and selling immature fish. In the last four months, we have detained 78 people, 34 convicts, 42 who were using illegal fishing gear are still on remand and the two who were transporting the burnt immature fish are also remanded.”
He said another 20,149 illegal fishing nets including monofilaments and beach seine nets were also seized and set ablaze.
Illegal fish and fishing gears being burnt by the Fisheries Protection Unit (FPU) at Ddimo landing site in Masaka District on October 23,2023. PHOTO/ANTONIO KALYANGO
Although residents at Ddimo landing site had requested FPU officers to give them the immature fish for consumption, this was rejected by Mr Godfrey Mujuzi who represented the Masaka District Fisheries Office on grounds that the fish was not fit for human consumption.
Mr Gerald Kyakkulumbye, the chairperson of Ddimo landing site advised the government to scrap taxes on fishing gear to enable all fishermen access them.
“The undersize nets are very cheap and can be accessed through various routes. The fact that our local people are unable to access the recommended nets, engines and timber for making boats they will keep resorting to affordable, but illicit options,” he said.
According to the recent survey by the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Fisheries, Uganda loses Shs 483 billion in foreign earnings annually due to illegal fishing.
