EU earmarks Shs45b for fish development

As fish stocks dwindle European Union has earmarked Shs45b to promote production of fish.
The money will mainly seek to support fish production along in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, especially on the Lake Victoria stretch.
Mr Liberat Mfumukeko, the East African Community secretary general, said last week during the commissioning of a campaign dubbed “True-Fish Programme’ that aquaculture in East Africa has not developed its potential, accounting for only 8 per cent of regional fish consumption.
Fish is a major foreign exchange earner, particularly in Uganda. However, it has been affected by dwindling stocks mainly propagated by poor fishing methods.

Therefore, Mfumukeko believes that “developing aquaculture to meet demand for fish in East Africa is crucial.”
The five-year programme is expected to run from 2019 to 2024, within which period, according to Amb Roeland van de Geer, the head of delegation of the EU to the EAC, will seek to uplift the potential of the region’s fish industry.

“Fish not only helps to improve nutrition and food security, it provides rural income and foreign exchange,” he said.
The programme will also seek to tackle sustainability challenges and risks that have prevented the development of a market-led, competitive and sustainable commercial aquaculture in the region.
Godfrey V Monor, the executive secretary of Lake Victoria Fisheries Organization (LVFO), said fish catches have declined therefore; partner states are making efforts to put in place mechanisms to increase fish production.

The programme seeks to develop competitive production and sustainable commercial aquaculture in the Lake Victoria basin.
It is also seeks to improve access to commercial networks for aquaculture-related businesses, increase availability and quality for industry related business.

dnakaweesi@ug.nationmedia.com

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