Fish traders share notes on illegal fishing
What you need to know:
- Illegal fishing on Ugandan lakes has caused a reduction in fish stocks, especially in species such as tilapia, Nile perch, and sliver fish, affecting the country’s export earnings from fish.
Women in the fishing industry have exchanged ideas to stamp out the practice of catching immature fish that leads to the extinction of some species.
While hosting their counterparts from 52 African countries, Ms Lovin Kobusingye, the President Uganda National Women Fisheries Organisation (UNWFO) said this will create a sustainable income and business opportunities for women.
“We have championed the celebration, we network and create business linkages. It has created opportunities because instead of me taking a plane to go to Egypt to ask a simple question I just have to have a member get all the marketing information of what I want,” Ms Kobusingye said.
Ms Kobusingye was speaking on Tuesday during the first African Women’s Fish Processors and Traders Symposium and Trade fair organised by UNWFO under the theme: “Africa’s Women Sustaining African Fisheries.
In July, communities near Lake Kyoga especially women were hunger stricken after government suspended all fishing activities on Lake Kyoga to allow the Fisheries Protection Unit under the Uganda People’s Defence Forces coordinate the registration of fishermen and their boats.
Illegal fishing on Ugandan lakes has caused a reduction in fish stocks, especially in species such as tilapia, Nile perch, and sliver fish, affecting the country’s export earnings from fish.
Ban
In June, soldiers under Fisheries Protection Unit (FPU) launched a full-scale operation on Lake Kyoga, banning fishing activities.
