Karagwe targets bigger fish harvest with 1.5m fingerlings

KARAGWE: THE government has stocked Lake Rwakajunju with 1.5 million Nile tilapia fingerlings, setting the stage for increased fish production and new economic opportunities for communities that depend on the lake for their livelihoods. The initiative has been welcomed by Karagwe Constituency legislator Innocent Bashungwa, who said rebuilding the lake’s fish stocks would give fresh momentum to the local blue economy, while expanding opportunities for fishing and improving household incomes. Speaking at the launch of the stocking exercise in Kafunjo village, Kamagambo ward, Mr Bashungwa called for the programme to be scaled up, urging the government to increase the number of fingerlings released into the lake to five million.

He explained that a larger fish population would help unlock the lake’s full economic potential, but warned that increased production must go hand in hand with stronger protection of the resource. Mr Bashungwa, therefore, called for the provision of a patrol boat to strengthen surveillance and crack down on illegal fishing, which threatens the sustainability of the lake’s fish stocks. He also pledged to donate a motorcycle to the Ward Fisheries Officer, saying the support would make it easier for fisheries officials to monitor fishing activities and enforce regulations across the area.

ALSO READ: New vaccine to benefit over 10,000 tilapia fish farmers Representing the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries, Nazael Madalla said the government was committed to continuing the stocking programme by releasing more fingerlings into Lake Rwakajunju. Mr Madalla explained that the ministry would also undertake a comprehensive assessment to determine the lake’s suitability for cage fish farming, a move that could open another avenue for increasing fish production and creating sustainable sources of income for surrounding communities. For the Kyerwa District Commissioner, Zaituni Msofe, who represented the Kagera Regional Commissioner, said the government had committed 450mn/- to supply the 1.5 million fingerlings stocked in the lake.

She said the investment was expected to inject new life into the fisheries sector, expanding economic opportunities and improving livelihoods not only in Karagwe but across the wider Kagera Region. The post Karagwe targets bigger fish harvest with 1.5m fingerlings appeared first on Daily News.