“Fishing baby fish “Umugara” prevents fish multiplication in Lake Tanganyika”

Despite the ban on fishing baby fish commonly called “Umugara”, they are sold in some Bujumbura markets and by street sellers. An Interview with: Nzeyimana Léonie, the Director of Fish and Fisheries in the Ministry of Environment.–By Lorraine Josiane Manishatse

Léonie Nzeyimana

Despite the ban on fishing baby fish “Umugara”, they are sold in some Bujumbura markets and by street sellers, what is your impression?

 
Lake Tanganyika is very large, we can’t control it entirely. We don’t have a sufficient number of staff personnel to protect it. That is the reason why cheaters profit from that weakness in fishing “Umugara” baby fish, something which is forbidden in Burundi.

Why do you forbid fishing baby fish “Umugara”?

“Umugara” are baby fish. Fishing them prevent fish multiplication in Lake Tanganyika as well as in any other lake or river. It prevents them from growing up or reproducing. In addition, experts have explained that 1kg of “Umugara” gives more than 1 ton of big fish if they grow up. Then, fishing Umugara is a big loss for the country as the majority of Burundians are suffering from undernourishment and malnutrition.

What are you doing to prevent it efficiently?

We have implemented agents to catch and arrest wrongdoers who come to fish while using mosquito nets. Last week, we seized a high amount of baby fish at Rusizi National Park. Fishermen transported them on the sly into basins, baskets and cans. As I have already said, the lake is too large and our staff is limited. We can’t fight efficiently if all the population is not involved.

What are your recommendations?

I call upon all populations living in Burundi to stand up against the fishing and marketing of Umugara. We ask the local administration in collaboration with the population to denounce and punish any person caught selling those prohibited fish. A law against fishing “Umugara” is already effective.