UPDF to target illegal fishing gear supply chain

Fishermen at Kananasi Landing Site prepare their nets along the shore

The Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) have changed strategy in their fight against illegal fishing by targeting shops, roads, markets and forest hideouts used to supply illegal fishing gear and immature fish.

According to Maj Joseph Ssebukeera, the commander of the 155 Marines Battalion, assigned to tackle illegal fishing practices on water bodies, the new approach is intended to disrupt the entire chain that sustain illegal fishing.

“Our operations have kicked off. We have talked to the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) at the borders and inside Uganda to ensure that we do not allow illegal fishing gear onto the Ugandan market,” Maj Ssebukeera said in an interview on August 18.

Maj Ssebukeera warned traders dealing in the prohibited fishing gear, transporters and traders of immature fish that security operatives will catch up with them.

“I am confident that if we work together with the fishermen, we will erase illegal fishing practices,” he said.

A section of fishermen have welcomed the intensified enforcement, but said operations would have limited impact unless security agencies also increased surveillance in forested areas where some fishermen reportedly hide their illicit gear and immature fish.

“Issues like the roads that lead to markets where immature fish are taken, which are open, still give hope to those involved in immature fish transportation,” Mr Steven Kasozi, a fisherman on Lulamba Landing Site, said.

Mr Kasozi added that the size of some islands also makes it difficult for landing-site committees to monitor every area, requesting for more surveillance.

Mr Sam Katerega, a fisherman at Kitobo Landing Site, said some fishermen had resorted to hiding in forests to continue illegal activities.

“Some fishermen now hide in the forests. Some whom we presumed to have gone back to their villages, are later found hiding in the forests. We request more manpower in monitoring these hiding spots, which are places for committing crimes and hiding illegal fishing gear,” he said.

The fishermen, however, caution enforcement personnel against using excessive force when dealing with violators. Mr Cossy Nakitendde, a fisherman at Bufumira Semawundo Landing Site, said some immature fish could be caught unintentionally as by-catch.

“For example, you find me with 30 heads of fish and among them 10 are immature fish that come as by-catch, and I have no other means to save or return them to the lake. We request enforcers to be humane and understand that it was not a fisherman’s intention to catch immature fish,” she said.

According to Mr Fred Badda, the Kalangala Resident District Commissioner, in the last six months, some landing site committees had performed well, with fishermen in some areas reporting improved catches.

“In some areas, fishermen are happy that they are seeing the number of fish catches increasing after handing the lake to indigenous fishermen. Our only worry is the pirates who are threatening our fishermen after knowing that they now catch more fish,” Mr Badda

said. However, he said at some landing sites like Kussu, Bufumira, Misonzi, Kitobo and Bossa, where immature fish are still impounded, committee members are going to be replaced.

Mr Patrick Musenda, the chairperson of the Kalangala District fisheries committee, proposed the printing of more visible identification numbers displayed on boats to make it easier to identify vessels involved in illegal activities.