Immature Fishing: A Threat to Food Security in Uganda. A Case Study of Majanji Landing Site Busia (Ug)

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Date
2004-05
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Tangaza University College
Abstract
This study undertook to investigate immature fishing considered a threat to food security at Majanji landing site Uganda. The research was based on three main specific objectives: To investigate on whether immature fishing is a threat to food security. In addition, to investigate about the public and the government's awareness of the extent immature fishing has reached the lakes and rivers in Uganda and lastly, to give suggestions and recommendations that can assist the government and all Ugandans fight immature fishing on lakes and rivers. The study sample consisted of fishers, the Local Council, Local People representatives, and Fisheries Department representative at the landing site. Questionnaires, interviews, observation, measurement and the camera were employed in the collection of data. Study findings reveal that there are several factors that contribute to the choice of the use of illegal fishing equipments. Such factors include high costs of fishing equipments, lack of seminars and awareness programmes, bribery among Fisheries Officers and understaffing in the Fisheries Department. It was also noted that the practice has led to scarcity of mature fish, a drop in the country's revenue, increase of the people carrying on fishing at the landing site, illegal fishing nets were in use and locally made fishing nets in place instead of the legal ones. All these indicate that immature fishing is a threat to food security at Majanji landing site and in the country at large. To ensure that there is food insecurity in the country the study propose the following: Awareness should be brought to all people of the importance of fish. The resource is a renewable one that can sustain both external and internal demands through which an increase of foreign revenue is realised More so, seminars should be organized for the leaders. Lastly, the government should see to it that fishing equipments reach the fishers at subsided prices and also make several checks on the resource since it has proved to be one of the country's money generating industries.
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Keywords
Threat to Food, Immature Fishing, Food Security, Uganda, Majanji Landing Site Busia
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