Gov't raises concerns over immature fish from South Sudan

Minister Adoa says much of the fish imported through Elegu border is usually immature and does not grow, which affects the Uganda's fishing industry since traders mix it with fish from Uganda.

The Minister of State for Fisheries, Hellen Adoa, has shown concern over the increasing importation of illegal fish from South Sudan.

Minister Adoa says much of the fish imported through Elegu border is usually immature and does not grow, which affects the Uganda's fishing industry since traders mix it with fish from Uganda.

"Fish from south Sudan is small, I don't know if that's their nature but traders keep entering our market which affect our domestic market but our team will engage the side of South Sudan to handle this issue," the minister, who was addressing the media at the Uganda Media Centre on Tuesday, said.

Adoa urged South Sudanese traders engaging in the immature stock to respect Ugandan laws on immature fish.

Every week fish tracks enter Uganda market through the Elegu border to tap. Authorities have been cracking down on the trade but the Ugandan traders also complain.

Last week, traders in Arua City stormed the office of the Resident City Commission after five tracks transporting their fish were impounded at Elegu and Pakwach checkpoints.

Also read: Frustrated fish traders take the stink to RCC office

While the Uganda traders claim victimisation arguing that they buy the fish without checking the growth size, Adoa warned South Sudan traders against smuggling illegal fish - suggesting a possibility of illicit trade.

The minister further noted the increasing poor fishing method enabled by the use of illegal fishing gear and methods among the fishing community.

The assistant commissioner of fisheries, Daisy Olyel, says illegal fishing methods deplete lakes leaving breeding zones empty.

"Silver fish should only be fished during night (darkness) because that's when they come out and Nile Perch and the rest are fished during daylight but if done otherwise with illegal fishing methods like "hurry up method" and gear, like monofilament nets and undersized gillnets, young fish will most likely be caught," Olyel said.

Aoda said enforcement is in high gear but she cautioned law enforcers on lakes to be sensitive and educate the people rather than beat and extort money from them.

Fish as a commercial commodity contributes approximately $160 million annually representing 5% to the national GDP. The sector employs close to 70% of Uganda's youth and women.

Authorities believe, if there was no illegal fishing, that amount could double.