International Day against Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing coinciding with World Environment Day

An International day against illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing such as this, reminds us of the importance of fisheries that provide a livelihood to more than five million people in Uganda. While it is important to regulate fisheries, effective management of fisheries should focus first on the people then the fish. A human-rights based approach to regulation of fisheries is key. The new Fisheries and Aquaculture Act 2022 need to be disseminated and implemented.

Coinciding with the World Environment Day, whose theme rotates around the restoration of the Ecosystem, the management and control of fisheries should also be mindful of the balance between the wealth-based approach to fisheries on one hand and the restoration of the ecosystem on the other. It’s time to appreciate, support the fisher folk, while ensuring the promotion and protection of the environment.