Boost fish output to increase food security

On Saturday, November 21, Uganda joined the rest of the world to mark the World Fisheries Day in Bugiri District where Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga commissioned a feed store for the UN Women cage project at Wakawaka. 

Globally, about 97 per cent of the people directly involved in fisheries work in the developing world and they catch about half the total world catch. In Uganda, it is estimated that some 1.2 million people are involved in fisheries-related employment.

Generally, the fisheries sub-sector contributes 3 per cent to the National GDP and to the food security and development of millions of Ugandans providing an important component in the third National Development Plan (NDPIII) 2020/2021 – 2024/2025.

Over the past three years, the fisheries sub-sector recovered from a slump of -2.1 per cent in 2017/2018 to grow at 11.3 per cent in 2018/2019. This turnaround is majorly attributed to strict enforcement of fishing regulations as well as the promotion of aquaculture, among other interventions.

Before that, fish production was largely affected by over-reliance on capture fisheries with limited investment in technology and innovation. The deteriorating quality of water sources resulting from aquatic pollution coupled with weak enforcement of regulations had also resulted in decline in fish stocks, particularly the Nile Perch.

Accordingly, fish processing capacity in Uganda is in primary processing, with fish processing plants producing only fish fillets, minced fish, salted and dried/smoked fish.

Due to high capital requirements, there is no plant undertaking secondary processing of fish into fish soluble, fish silage, fish meal fish oils and cutlery fish products. Fisheries waste, from which isinglass and pharmaceuticals could be manufactured, is also wasted. 

This has in turn prompted the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) to embark on a reexamination of the fisheries sector, specifically addressing the causes of poverty in fishing communities.

The findings led to the increased promotion of aquaculture, empowerment of the National Fisheries Resources Research Institute (NaFIRRI) under NARO as well as the Fisheries Protection Force to strengthen enforcement fisheries policies, among others.

The results have been impressive and include a 44.3 per cent increase in the value of fish exports from $123m (Shs 458b) in 2015 to $177.7m (Shs 660b) in 2019 and the re-opening of six fish processing factories leading to the rise of the fisheries sub-sector contribution to the GDP to a tangible 3 per cent.

When viewed from an assessment and management perspective, these attributes are boosted by increased research, streamlined collection of data and empowerment of fisheries institutions. 

It is worth noting that the provision of alternative livelihoods among fishing communities through imparting knowledge in activities like honey-packaging and candle-making, among others, has greatly improved fish stock by reducing high dependency on fishing that lures fishermen to engage in illegal fishing methods.

Recent successes in addressing these issues have had significant social consequences and have improved livelihoods, reduced vulnerability to poverty and meant more availability of fish protein per capita.

The ministry’s development interventions for the fishing sector seek to reduce poverty through accelerated economic growth, improvements in technology and infrastructure and market-led economic policy reform.

It is for this reason that I urge Parliament to pass the soon-to-be tabled Fisheries and Aquaculture Act, that will provide guidelines, regulations and standards to promote sustainable fisheries resources,  while also promoting commercially environmentally-friendly aquaculture practices.

Ms Kemigyisha is the public relations manager, Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries.