By Peter Abanabasazi
Fishermen operating on the shores of Lake Albert in Biliisa district have expressed dismay with government decision to ban the use of hurry-up fishing gear.
Recently, the Minister of Fisheries banned the use hurry-up fishing gear to catch sliver fish (Mukene) on different lakes across the country and recommended scoping (Chotachota) as the legal fishing net for Mukene.
Speaking during the sensitization meeting organized by Fisheries Protection Unit about the new directive at Butiaba FPU headquarters in Buliisa district last evening, Robert Ongei, the chairman of Walukuba Mukene Association said the implementation of new method has been abrupt and they need to first train the fishing community about the method.
He notes that waters on Lake Albert are deep adding that they cannot manage to use Chotachota since it’s not practical.
Amina Duchiru a fisher woman from Walukuba landing site in Buliisa district says in the past, they used to use Chotachota when the waters were shallow but with the recent floods its use is impossible.
She adds that if the government insists on the use of Chotachota fishing nets, it means they have been eliminated from their business.
Philip Kutegeka, the Buliisa District Fisheries Officer advises the fishermen to adhere to the new directive since it is aimed at protecting the lake from depletion.
Major Frank Kanzira, the operation officer for FPU says the use of Hurry-up fishing nets was burned across all water bodies in the country by the Ministry of Fisheries saying the nets were only still being used on Lake Albert adding that the vice should stop with immediate effect.
He has directed FPU officers deployed at lake to start an operation of impounding all these fishing gear and arrest all those who will insist on their use.
