The Ministry of Fisheries has confirmed that President Museveni will on Friday 25 November 2022, preside over International Fisheries day to be held in Serere District.
According to State Minister for Fisheries Hellen Adoa, the International Fisheries Day is celebrated across the globe on November 21, 2022.
“This year, Uganda will join the rest of the world to commemorate the World Fisheries Day on November 25, 2022 in Serere District at the District Local Government Grounds under the theme “Promoting fish farming for improved household incomes.”
“The Chief Celebrant this year is His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Uganda, Rtd. Gen. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni,” Adoa said while addressing the press in Soroti Hotel on Tuesday morning.
This years celebration is jointly organized by the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) and District Local Government in Serere.
In her address Adoa said that, the days theme highlights that there is increased production and consumption of fisheries products countrywide which has contributed to food security, nutrition and immediate and long-term benefit on people’s incomes and the economy.
“In the case of Uganda, the Fisheries sub-sector contributes 4% to the National GDP and is the second largest export product for Uganda after coffee,” she noted
She further added that goovernment is putting priority efforts on promotion of aquaculture including, Providing critical quality inputs in form of fish fingerlings and fish feeds as starter packages to hundreds of farmers countrywide, Training/skilling of farmers in modern aquaculture practices, Support the development of fish farmers and marketing associations and cooperatives, Design and construction of 2 large scale Aqua-parks in Apac and Kalangala that are both on-going.
World Fisheries Day, which is traced back in India on November 21, 1997 highlights the fact that fisheries are an important sector and provides employment to millions of people, as well as contributing to the food security of Uganda.
In November 1997, small-scale fishers with representatives from eighteen (18) countries, under the World Forum on Fish Harvesters and Fisheries Workers, met in New Delhi and established the World Fisheries Forum (WFF).
The World Fisheries Forum (WFF), aimed to protect nature and human rights of fishers. Since then, November 21st is celebrated every year as the World Fisheries Day (WFD) in a number of countries. The World Fisheries Forum therefore designated November 25th, as the World Fisheries Day in 1979.
Simon Edoru Ekuu the Soroti District LCV called on the people of Teso to venture in Fish Farming noting that its the only root in eliminating Poverty in the region.
“It’s very cheap to keep fish in the compound than Chicken,” said Edoru.
Soroti RDC Komakech Salim also said there is need by government to put more emphasis in the Fisheries ministry noting that the fishing sector has capacity to improve the country’s export.
Why World Fisheries Day Is Important
It’s a reminder of environmental sustainability adaptation World Fisheries Day is an important reminder to inform fishing communities and those around them of climate change and pollution mitigation, in order to keep our fisheries clean and productive.
It provides economic support to fishing folks particularly youth and women Fish forms an important part of the diets of people around the country, particularly those that live near rivers and other water bodies.
A number of traditional communities are rallied around the occupation of fishing, and approximately 50% of them are women. WFD increase awareness among low-income fishermen and women who work tirelessly in fisheries, especially those in rural areas.
It is a livelihood support to many households and foreign exchange earner to Government Ugandan fisheries and aquaculture is an important sector of food production providing nutritional security, besides livelihood support and gainful employment to more than one million people, and contributing to agricultural exports.
More than 50 different types of fish and fish products are being exported to European Union, China, USA and the United Arab Emirates.
Fish and fish products have presently emerged as the third largest group in agricultural exports from Uganda.
World Fisheries Day is a great opportunity to learn more about where our fish comes from and the environment of fisheries.