The Fisheries Department in Masaka District is disturbed by politicians interfering with the enforcement of regulations on illegal fishing methods.

Speaking to journalists, the District Fisheries Officer, Mr Tom Bukenya, accused councillors and the LC3 chairman of Bukakata Sub-county, Mr Aloysius Jjuuko of frustrating efforts to crack down on illegal fish gear on the Lake Victoria shores.

He said Mr Jjuuko has on several occasions shielded fishermen who use illegal gear during operations. "The fisheries staff and the beach management units at the landing sites have found it difficult to crack down on illegal fishing gear because politicians shield culpable fishermen," Mr Bukenya said.

But Mr Jjuuko said burning undersize nets at the landing sites would be meaningless unless the government bans the importation of illegal fishnets. "The government give recommended nets to fishermen on short term loans. When the nets are burnt by fisheries officers, redundant fishermen could become a threat to the society," Mr Jjuuko said.

Mr Bukenya alleged that some politicians in Bukakata and Kyanamukaka were engaged in catching immature fish for export in the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan and as a result, they do not want to surrender illegal fishnets.

He said the majority of fishermen at Namirembe, Kachanga, Dimo and Kamuwunga landing sites, use illegal fishnets like beach seines, mono filament and other undersized nets. As a result of such illegal practices, Mr Bukenya said, several e fish species like the tilapia, nile perch have reduced.

He added that the ecological health of Lake Victoria has been affected profoundly as a result of over fishing, rapid growing population of fishermen from Kenya and Tanzania, and booming fish-export industry.

He said his department embarked on the sensitisation of fishing communities in the district and warned that fisheries officers will continue impounding illegal gear.

According to the district fisheries report for January and July, illegal fishnets like the monofilament and beach seines worth Shs30 million were burnt during operations carried out at Namirembe, Lambu, Kachanga and Kamuwunga landing sites.