Senior fisheries officials from Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda on Monday raised an alarm saying illegal fishing has rebounded in Lake Victoria shared by the three east African countries.
Speaking in a meeting that brought together fisheries officials from the three countries, Emmanuel Bulayi, the director of fisheries in Tanzania’s Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries, said between 25 percent and 30 percent of fishermen that are arrested in connection with illegal fishing in the lake are found with catches of immature fish.
Bulayi said if illegal fishing is not controlled in the lake, there was a likelihood of fish processing plants located around the lake being in short supply of fish for processing.
“Illegal fishing has caused decreased catches in Nile perch which are the main raw materials for the fish processors,” said Bulayi.
Lake Victoria is shared by the three countries in which Kenya occupies 6 percent, Uganda 45 percent and Tanzania 49 percent.