The Kalangala District Resident District Commissioner, Mr Fred Badda, has warned that the government will again close landing sites found engaging in illegal fishing practices.
‘We shall not be merciful to any landing site that still shields fishermen involved in illegal fishing in Kalangala. When we find anyone engaging in illegal fishing, that landing site will be closed until they repent,’ Mr Badda said.
The RDC issued the warning while officially reopening Lulindi and Kagoonya landing sites in Bufumira Sub-county, Kalangala District on May 24.
The landing sites had been closed since 2017 during operations conducted by the Fisheries Protection Unit (FPU), which was later integrated into the UPDF 155 Battalion.
Mr Badda said illegal fishing continues to frustrate renewed government efforts aimed at restoring fish stocks in Lake Victoria.
‘We are fighting hard to ensure that fish stocks recover in the lake and continuing illegal fishing activities takes us backwards in achieving our goal,’ he said.
According to the RDC, the landing sites were closed because of persistent illegal fishing. He said the government only agreed to reopen them after fishermen pledged to comply with new fisheries regulations. During the reopening exercise, new fisheries committees were selected to spearhead the fight against illegal fishing practices.
Under the new guidelines, the landing site committees will be supervised by parish, sub-county and district fisheries committees with support from the UPDF 155 Battalion. The landing site committees comprise indigenous fishermen who voluntarily work to eliminate illegal fishing practices in their communities.
Mr Badda warned that any fisherman found violating fisheries laws would face individual prosecution, while committee members who fail to enforce the regulations risk dismissal from office.
Mr Tadius Mwesigwa, the chairperson of Lulindi Landing site, said the closure of the landing site greatly affected fishermen and their families after many lost their main source of livelihood .
‘We became very poor and many children stopped going to school because fishermen had no source of income. Most landlords could only allow us to grow crops like beans, rice and soya beans, which bring low income,’ he said.
Before its closure, Lulindi Landing Site had more than 50 boats, many of which were undersized and linked to illegal fishing activities.
The landing site has now resumed operations with only 10 legally approved boats, while residents are preparing to construct more boats that meet fisheries standards.
‘They have started buying timber to make boats that are allowed on the lake. We hope that if these operations continue, we shall have a clean and productive lake and people will again earn a living,’ Mwesigwa said.
According to local leaders, more than 30 people directly depend on the 10 boats through fishing, fuel supply, boat repair and net preparation.
The Kalangala District Fisheries Officer, Mr Adrian Kavuma, said illegal fishing practices continue to heavily contribute to the depletion of fish stocks in Lake Victoria.
‘For example, illegal fishing nets catch about 250 million immature fish daily, leaving Lake Victoria’s most valuable species- Nile Perch, under serious threat,’ he said.
Mr Kavuma explained that most illegal fishing nets are cheap, accessible and often handmade, making them popular among low-income fishermen. Among the illegal fishing gear commonly used are monofilament nets, beach seines, trawling nets, cast nets, hooks below number 10 and gill nets with undersized mesh.
‘These mainly target tilapia below five inches and Nile Perch below seven inches, which are considered juveniles,’ he said.
Mr Kavuma said authorities believe fish stocks can significantly recover if illegal fishing is controlled. ‘If we can save 250 million fish every day over a period of six years, we shall have enough fish stock in the lake,’ he said.
According to district authorities, more than 90 people have been arrested in the past month under the new guidelines for engaging in illegal fishing.