KWANIA – The Uganda People’s Defence Force [UPDF] fisheries protection unit has closed Ayera landing site in Atongtidi Sub-county in Kwania district over unlicenced fishing boats operating on Lake Kwania.
The closure of the landing site comes barely a week after two fishermen drowned in the lake as the small canoe they were using capsised.
Capt. Apollo Natweeta, the commander of the fisheries protection unit in Kwania district said a number of fishermen at Ayera landing site were using illegal fishing gear.
While speaking during a community meeting on Monday Natweeta said: “Fishermen are dying in the lake because they are using small boats and illegal fishing gear.”
He said his unit closed the landing site to allow fishermen to procure the recommended boat sizes to reduce water accidents. “I request you to use this opportunity to get the recommended fishing gear to avoid embarrassment.”
Patrick Onyum Okwang, Atongtidi Sub-county Chairman said 10 fishermen have so far lost their lives at the same landing site within a period of three months due to faulty fishing gear.
“Imagine we have lost about 10 people at this landing site within only three months. Let us be in groups and procure the recommended fishing gear to reduce cases of water accidents,” he said.
Atongtidi Sub-county chief, Alan Aboce asked fishermen to desist from excessive consumption of alcohol. He tasked the UPDF soldiers never to receive bribes from fishermen found carrying illegal fishing activities so as minimise cases of water accidents.
Some of the fishermen who spoke to this reporter welcomed the closure of the landing site with mixed reactions. Ronald Denis Odongo said: “I welcome the closure of this landing site because the closure is meant to save lives.”
Another fisherman Joel Okello argued that the closure is not timely, “Where shall we feed our families now that the landing site is closed. We depend entirely on this lake. I want to appeal to the government to offer us soft loans to allow us to set up alternative sources of livelihood.”
https://thecooperator.news/illegal-fishing-mps-disagree-with-museveni-on-key-proposal/
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