THE ART OF CAGE FISHING

From the information available at the Aquaculture Research and Development center - Kajjansi, it is clear that if money is put into Cage Fish Farming, in a period of about 8 months, the country may start realizing good money from the proceeds of this business.  There is all the hope that Government will do some good homework to have this strategy off ground.

William Kituuka Kiwanuka

CAGE CULTURE: A NEW STRATEGY FOR INCREASING FISH YIELDS AND PROFITABILITY

By Aquaculture Research & Development Center – Kajjansi

P. O. Box 530, Kampala.

Tel: +256 414 375668

Email: fish@aqua.go.ug

Growing Fish in Cages

Commercialization of Fish Farming in Uganda is achievable through efficient production systems like cages.  Cage Farming is mainly practiced on lakes, rivers and reservoirs after approval from the Government of Uganda.

Advantages of growing Fish in Cages:

         i.        Cost of the cage is about 1/10^th that of a pond which produces the same yields.

       ii.        Land ownership is not required.

      iii.        Cage materials are available in Uganda.

      iv.        Cage Fish Farming provides alternatives to Fishing.

       v.        Floating feeds (extruded pellets) are available in Uganda.

Requirements for production of Fish in Cages:

1)   High quality Fish Feed: preferably extruded pellets with a complete diet and these are available in Uganda.

2)   Proper Cage Design that is practical, cost effective and prevents predators.

3)   Good quality and healthy Fingerlings from Government or Certified private hatcheries.  Preferably, the Fingerling Seed should be all males because they grow faster.

4)   Lakes or reservoirs with good water quality; and temperatures above 25 degrees Celsius.  The use of low quality feed pollutes the water and can make cage Culture unprofitable.

5)   Security for Cages is very important after they are installed.  NOTE: It is highly recommended that one consults an Aquaculture or Cage Specialist when selecting a site for Cage Farming.

Productivity from Cages

Yields from a Cage are 180Kg/cubic meter when growing Tilapia using floating feeds.  Yields from ponds are usually 0.2Kg/cubic meter.

Profitability from Cages:

Tilapia grown in Cages is sold profitably because of good taste, size and texture.  The enterprise budget below shows profits from one Cage.

Enterprise budget for Nile Tilapia grown in (2x2x2) cubic meter Cage for seven months:   

Cages will improve yields and profits

With an existing enabling policy, availability of good quality Fish Seed, Feed and Water Resources, Fish farmers can improve their yields and profits.

Yields from Cages are about 180Kg/cubic meter compared to pond based (0.2Kg/cubic meter).  Never the less, better management practices are crucial to achieve the profits or yields. 

UGANDA'S FISH EXPORTS FALL AS FISHERMEN DEPLETE L. VICTORIA

Uganda’s fish exports fall as fishermen deplete L. Victoria

Business

Written by Jeff Mbanga

Wednesday, 11 June 2008 22:22

The heavy price Uganda will pay for not stopping indiscriminate fishing is now visible. The value of fish exports fell by about 14% in 2007 after the volume dropped by nearly the same amount. It is the first fall in five years. The decline happened at the time when demand in Europe, the main market for Uganda’s fish had gone up. “Formal fish exports fell, breaking a five-year continous annual growth trend,” the Uganda Export Promotion Board (UEPB) has revealed. UEPB arrived at this conclusion basing on the recent figures from the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS). The decline is a blow to Uganda’s struggling export industry in which fish has for the last five years played a major role—as the country’s third foreign exchange earner after remittances by Ugandans working abroad and coffee. Industry source said it was likely that fish exports will slump further because of the rising food prices. It is predicted that indiscriminate fishing, blamed for the decline in exportable fish, will go up as food prices continue to rise. “Uganda is beginning to see the first signs of over-fishing and this trend is likely to dampen supply to the major markets of the EU,” the Export Promotion board notes. Figures released by UBOS indicate that the value of fish exports declined from $145.8 million in 2006 to $124.7 million in 2007, a 14% fall. At the same time, the volume of fish exports went down to 31,681 tons in 2007 from 36,461 tons the previous year, a 13% decline. The most affected specie is the Nile Perch. Those in the fish business fear that the Nile Perch could be destined for extinction if no immediate measures are put in place to stop exploitation of immature fish. However there is hope for a revival. The Export Promotion Board says that industry experts are observing “a growing trend where smaller fish (12 inches or less) are carrying eggs at an early stage, another sign that fish populations are responding to a threat of extinction.” The UEPB points out that Uganda’s fish industry should be worried considering that other countries like China have the potential to supply Nile Perch and Tilapia to the European Union. The UEPB is concerned that smuggling of fish and fishermen targeting young fish continues to thrive on the country’s biggest lake. “Illegal fishing and export of undersized fish destined for the regional markets is having a negative impact on stock in Lake Victoria,” the UEPB explains. Much of the fish, the UEPB says, is smuggled to Kenya and Democratic Republic of Congo. Uganda’s Police note that it is becoming impossible to track smugglers on the shores of the lake, explaining that it is understaffed. But Katiti Matovu, the Chief Executive Officer of Uganda Fish Processors and Exporters Association, is optimistic about the future. She is convinced that fish exports will rebound after UFPEA members last year agreed to ensure that only mature fish is processed. “We decided to self-police ourselves. We only buy mature fish,” she said. Illegal fish is measured in its size, which is below 20 inches. “Sizes smaller than 12 inches are sun-dried and exported without encumbrance”, the UEPB says. However, Katiti says that they have three independent inspectors go to factories every week to check on the fish being exported. She said the same policy has been adopted by Tanzania, and that Kenya is about to come on board. She told The Weekly Observer that such young fish is normally exported to DR Congo. Katiti says that it is up to the governments in the region to regulate activities on the lakes. jmbanga@observer.ug UGANDA'S FISH EXPORTS DIP FURTHER PAUL MWIJAGYE KAMPALA, UGANDA-Uganda's fish exports have continued to drop, indicating a downward trend that has characterised fish exports for the last four years. Statistics from the Fisheries Department of the Ministry of Agriculture indicates that the volume of fish exported dropped by 6,000 tonnes from 23,000 exported in 2008 to 17, 000 tonnes in 2009.The value of fish exports also dropped from US$115million in 2008 to $85million in 2009, heightening concerns over Uganda's dwindling fish stocks. According to a fisheries official who preferred anonymity, there are already indicators that the exports will drop further in 2010. Statistics from the ministry indicate that from January to June 2010, only 5,000 tonnes worth $25million have been exported. Fish exports touched a high of 36,000 tonnes in 2005 worth $143million, the highest ever registered. However exports have since been dropping annually. In 2006, Uganda exported 32,000 tonnes worth $136million. The exports further dropped in 2007 to 28,000 tonnes worth $117million. An official from the Fisheries Department attributed the trend to over fishing, and use of illegal gear which catches young fish. He noted that the Nile Perch which is the major source of revenue for Uganda has been most hit. “There have been bigger catches of other fish species like Mukene but Nile Perch has reduced significantly," the official noted. He said that unemployment has, in some way, contributed to the dwindling fish stalks. "Most of the fishing in Uganda is done in rural areas. Because most people are not gainfully employed, they look at it as a solution to their financial problems, thus depleting the lakes," he noted. He further noted that the licensing which was formerly been done at the district level contributed to the decline in stalks. "The districts aimed at giving out more licenses as a way of rising more revenue without putting in place the necessary controls and measures," he said. He however said they have centralised the licensing process and the ministry is registering all the fishermen. "We are going to establish how many they are and how many should be there," he said. He said the boats will also be given number plates. "There has been a delay in implementing these measures because we are waiting for the amendment of the Fisheries Act to enable us implement certain measures which were formerly not provided for by the law," he said. Fish is a key foreign exchange earner for Uganda and had once overtaken major exports like coffee. However it now lags behind Ugandans in the Diaspora and tourism in foreign exchange. "Stocks have continued to decrease in our water bodies and inevitably less and less fish is harvested and this trend is expected to continue until the measures government is undertaking start to have an impact," the official noted.