Kampala — RECENTLY, Moses Kabuusu, the Kyamuswa MP, appeared with a tray of stinking fish from his constituency before Parliament. The legislator had a stunning message to relay - the rate at which immature fish is being caught has reached alarming levels.

The normal length of a mature Nile Perch, Kabuusu says, is 20 inches, but some as short as four inches are being caught.

Drop in export revenue

Uganda's fish exports are set to drop by a whopping $60m (about sh96b) by the end of the year. The loss in revenue is a result of illicit trade in immature fish and insufficient funding to the sector, says Fred Mukisa, the fisheries state minister.

Mukisa says previously there was robust growth in fish exports to international markets, from $0.4m (about sh640m) in 1998 to over $145m (about sh230m) in 2008.

Much of Uganda's fish for export comes from lakes Victoria, Kyoga and Albert. Nile Perch, Tilapia and Mukenne form the mainstream of the fisheries industry. However, the Nile Perch species is getting depleted from Lake Albert, says Bulisa MP, Stephen Biraahwa.

Ogenga Latigo, the leader of the opposition in Parliament, recently said fish had reduced in size because they were mating at an early age. He blamed this on the pressure put on them by over fishing. However, the major reason for the dwindling fish stock remains the use of undersize and illegal fishing nets.

The illegal nets are smuggled into the country, while some people use bags used for planting flowers in green houses to catch fish.

Dison Lugemwa, a salesman with Uganda fishnet manufacturers, says his company makes standard nets. "We manufacture 38,000 pieces of nets of four inches and above monthly," he says. "But the fisheries ministry regularly inspects us to verify the quality of the nets."

Fisheries sector at peak

Statistics at the agriculture ministry show that the sector employs 400,000 people and contributes to the livelihood of about 1.5 million people. Since Uganda began exporting fish, the country's processing capacity has also grown from two factories to 18 in the last 10 years, says Mukisa.

Such was the high growth rate witnessed by the fisheries industry that it is currently Uganda's second highest export earner behind coffee. This position is, however, now under threat.

Impact of illegal fishing

The practice has taken a toll on processing plants because they are operating at between 30%and 50% of their normal capacity.

William Olaho-Mukani, the director of animal resources at the agriculture ministry, says fighting illegal fishing is the responsibility of all Ugandans. "No one should sleep and eat well when someone is depleting fish stocks," he says.

More needs to be done Despite the formation of Beach Management Units (BMUs) to counter illegal fishing, the problem has not been solved yet.

Fuel for rebellion?

The Mukono resident district commissioner, David Matovu, says the new threat to the fishing industry could encourage formation of rebel movements."This is another Kony war in the making," he says. "If we allow illegal fishing to go on unabated, the youth will be jobless. This will force them to enlist in rebel activities."

Way forward

To curb illegal fishing, the Government has closed seven fish processing plants that deal in immature fish, says Mukisa.

Recently, in Mukono, 10,000 undersize nets valued at sh2b were torched at Katosi landing site. During the operation, 20 people who were using illegal nets were also arrested and paraded during a two-week operation by the Association of Fisheries and Lake Users of Uganda, the Police, maritime security and BMU personnel.

The internal affairs minister, Ruhakana Rugunda, says stronger measures will be taken to curb illegal fishing and that security organs that connive with fishermen will be investigated.

It remains to be seen whether these measures will be effective.