Francis Mugerwa
7 October 2008
analysis
Fewer fish in the lake, crime, disease and drowing of fishermen have made fishing a feared job nowadays.
Mr. Robert Opita (38) sits in his canoe boat on the shores of Lake Albert. He is at Butyaba landing site, contemplating how he will go about his day's fishing activities. He would like to get a huge catch so that he can sell good quality and high quantities of fish and therefore have a better income.
But he is not only worried of accidents but also about the low fish catches which have reduced the earnings of fishermen. Opita's wishes, just like those of many other fishermen are increasingly becoming hard to materialise because of the numerous challenges they face.
Lake Albert, located in the Albertine grabben in the rift valley is one of Africa's famous lakes but accidents, decreased fish stocks, poor hygiene, lack of ready reliable market, poor fishing methods and gears, insecurity and crime in the waters have greatly hampered smooth fishing operations.
"We lack modern fishing gears. The canoes are slow and unreliable when we meet strong winds in the lake," Mark Sipya (32) says. Worse still, the fishermen overload the dilapidated canoes while some attempt to over speed.
On September 30, a canoe carrying 27 fishermen capsized at Kamina-Nguse landing site in which 18 people died. The mid-western Police Commander Mr Paul Martin Amoru says 13 bodies so far have been recovered while police managed to rescue six people. The desperate search for survivors by police, army and Uganda Red Cross Society is ongoing.
"The accident was caused by overloading," Amoru said. He also said the strong winds which the boat encountered greatly contributed to its sinking. He says enforcing safety on the lake has become difficult. "Whereas on the road we have the Road safety act, in the waters we lack a specific law that mitigates lake-related accidents," he says.
This is the latest accident in the several accidents that have occurred in the lake. In April, a canoe boat at Butyaba landing site capsized and killed over 10 people who were on board.
Amoru says that putting on life jackets would be mandatory for all lake users to minimise losing lives when boats capsize. He said the boat that capsized was in a dangerous mechanical condition just like many other boats on the lake. "Life jackets keep one floating till he gets people to rescue him or her," the police commander says.
The fishermen here use prohibited fishing methods, to the chagrin of conservationists and various government technocrats. Amoru says many Uganda fishermen are attacked, assaulted and robbed by criminals in the waters. "Quarrels between Ugandan and Congolese fishermen are common and often times they result into fights," he added. Crime in the waters is another concern for police.
There are some pirates who reportedly way lay the fishermen and rob them of their money and other properties in the lake. "We are going to enforce our Marine Unit which is stationed in Butyaba to curb crime in Lake Albert waters," Amoru added. The unit has a marine boat but is overstretched to monitor activities on the entire board line in Bunyoro.
Conservationists are struggling with the marked decrease in fish stocks in various lakes in the country. "Fish is very scarce nowadays. It is possible to lay nets and you come back empty handed," Opita says.
The Buliisa District fisheries officer Mr. Philip Ngongaha says fishermen at various landing sites in the district use beach seines locally known as kokota, poison, undersized nets and light to fish at night which is prohibited. "Indiscriminate fishing is dangerous since immature fish is also caught," Ngongaha says.
A fisherman sits in his canoe at Butyaba landing site on Lake Albert. Accidents, decreased fish stocks and poor hygiene are some of the things that have hampered fishing activities in this area. PHOTO BY FRANCIS MUGERWA
Some fishermen fish without minding about the breeding grounds of the fish, which affects the fish stocks. Sanitation at all landing sites on this lake is pathetic. Many residents lack toilets and other related sanitary facilities. This explains why cholera, bilharzia, diarrhoea, dysentery and sanitary related diseases are prevalent here.
"We are sensitising them about the need to set up and utilise toilets," Dr.Charles Kajura, the District production coordinator says. Fishermen are also being sensitised on better fishing methods that prioritise restocking. The re-emergence of the water hyacinth on the lake is another concern for the fishermen.
The weed is at Wanseko, Butyaba, Hoimo and Sebigoro landing sites and is reportedly spreading to other landing sites. Dr. Kajura explained that the weed has created a canopy on the water and blocks sun rays from reaching the waters which is key in fish breeding.
Fish eventually suffocates and dies because the weed consumes the oxygen the fish wants for metabolism. It may also cause accidents when it blocks moving boats. "We are encouraging fishermen to manually extract it (water hyacinth) from the waters and offer it to cows which feed on it," Kajura said.
The fisheries state minister Mr. Fred Mukisa says the government plans to improve sanitation, infrastructure, and assist fishermen access international markets and restock the lake. He says efforts will be made to mitigate accidents through increased inspection of the boats.
Mr. Mukisa says all fishing boats and gears will be inspected and registered by fisheries' officials to ensure they do not contravene national fishing guidelines.
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