Government has lifted the ban on silver fish (mukene) fishing, allowing fishermen to resume operations under new licensing and operational guidelines aimed at curbing illegal fishing methods and protecting fish breeding grounds.
The State Minister for Fisheries, Robert Migadde Ndugwa, announced the reopening on Tuesday during a press conference at the Uganda Media Centre in Kampala, where he unveiled new guidelines governing the licensing and issuance of fishing permits for mukene and ragoogi/muziri fisheries.
“We are giving an opportunity to those fishing mukene to resume officially today, but there are conditions and guidelines to follow,” Migadde said.
He explained that the suspension had been imposed because of the continued use of prohibited fishing methods, particularly a technique locally known as hurry-up, which authorities are determined to eliminate.
“They were suspended because we were using a method called hurry-up and, therefore, when we are reopening them, that method should not be seen anywhere,” he said.
Under the new guidelines, only fishermen and boat owners who meet specific licensing, vessel and fishing equipment requirements will be allowed to resume operations.
Applicants must demonstrate that they held a silver fish fishing licence in at least one of the years 2023, 2024, 2025 or 2026. Their fishing vessels must also have a minimum overall length of 24 feet.
The minister restricted the use of scoop nets, commonly known as chota chota, to one net per vessel. Each net must be mounted on a wooden ring with a maximum diameter of five feet and have a minimum mesh size of 8mm.
The use of Lampara nets and other panelled fishing equipment has been prohibited under the new measures.
Each fishing vessel will also be permitted to carry a maximum of two crew members, locally known as baria.
To allow fish stocks to recover and protect breeding cycles, fishing activities will be restricted to 14 days from the beginning of the dark phase of the moon each month.
The guidelines also prohibit fishing in water bays, designated breeding grounds and areas located within two kilometres of the shoreline.
Additionally, all fishing vessels must return to their respective landing sites with their catch and fishing equipment on board to strengthen monitoring and enforcement.
District authorities have been directed to submit lists of approved landing sites to the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF), where mukene and ragoogi/muziri catches will be officially landed.
Fishermen seeking licences and permits will be required to present their National Identity Cards as proof of Ugandan citizenship, copies of previous fishing licences and evidence of ownership of their fishing vessels.
Applicants must also provide telephone numbers registered in their names.
In addition, fishermen will be required to present their fishing equipment for inspection and verification to ensure compliance with the new regulations.
Successful applicants will then be required to make arrangements to pay the applicable licensing fees before commencing operations.
The government says the new measures are intended to strengthen monitoring of the mukene and ragoogi/muziri fisheries, promote responsible fishing practices and prevent the destruction of breeding grounds.
Authorities are also seeking to eliminate prohibited fishing equipment and methods to ensure that the reopening of the fisheries does not lead to a renewed decline in fish stocks.
