Kampala — THE fisheries ministry is to start licensing fishing vessels, fishermen and trucks carrying fish, Parliament has heard.

The exercise has hitherto been carried out by district authorities.

This was announced by the fisheries state minister, Fred Mukisa, who was responding to queries raised by MPs on the problem of over fishing.

"They (districts) look at it as a source of revenue. They over-license fishermen, boats and this puts pressure on our lakes," he said.

Mukisa attributed the decline in fish stocks, especially the Nile Perch, to uncontrolled fishing and lack of regulation.

"One of the measures we have taken is to recall licensing (from the districts). We are controlling licensing from the centre," the minister said.

He said it is difficult to control the use of illegal fishing nets.

"We are investigating a group of people behind smuggling illegal fishing nets," he said.

Mukisa added that although Beach Management Units were set up to control the vice, they were not properly facilitated.