Uganda

“appliance” means any snare, noose, harpoon, spear, contrivance or device not otherwise defined hereunder for the purpose of capturing, killing, injuring, snaring or trapping fish;

“to fish” or any grammatical variation of the term means to capture, kill, injure, snare or trap fish and shall be deemed to include any steps taken preliminary to the capturing, killing, injuring, snaring or trapping but shall not include the capturing of fish by means of angling or a hand line;

In any case where it appears to the Minister that an otherwise lawful method of fishing is likely to prove unduly destructive, he or she may by statutory order, which order may be made to apply to the whole or to any part or parts of Uganda— (a) prohibit the use of the method; or (b) subject the use of the method to such conditions as he or she may think fit, and any person who contravenes any order made under this section commits an offence against this Act.

Any person who, without the written permission of the chief fisheries officer, uses or possesses for the purpose of using any poison, noxious substance, explosive, lamp, light, flare, torch or electrical device for the capturing, killing or injuring of any fish or for rendering any fish more easily captured commits an offence against this Act.

Any person who in the waters of Uganda captures, kills or injures any fish by means of any prohibited net or of any prohibited method or in any prohibited place in relation to the fish commits an offence against this Act.

Any person who— (a) fishes from any vessel in any waters of Uganda unless a valid fishing vessel licence to fish either with long lines or with nets is in force in respect of the vessel; (b) fishes from any such licensed vessel with more long lines or nets than may be authorised or in any manner which is not authorised by the chief fisheries officer, with the approval of the Minister, particulars of which authorisation shall be set out in the relevant fishing vessel licence, commits an offence against this Act.

“recreational fishing” means fishing with a rod and line for pleasure, where any fish caught are not for sale or are returned to the water alive.

The following fishing methods are prohibited in any waters of Uganda— (a) beating or splashing of water commonly known as “kikubo” or “tycoon” with the intention of scaring or driving fish into a net or any other fishing appliance; and (b) long line fishing with hooks exceeding size nine.

A person shall not manufacture, import, sale or display for sale, nets or other fishing appliances unless authorised in writing by the Chief Fisheries Officer or an authorised licensing officer.

A person shall not engage in recreational fishing without a recreational fishing permit issued by the Chief Fisheries Officer or an authorised licensing officer.

4. Any fish of the lates niloticus (Nile perch species) of less than 20 inches and or Greater than 50 inches shall be returned to the natural environment immediately on being caught with minimum injury. 5. A person fishing for recreational purposes shall only be allowed to retain 5 (five) kilograms of the fish caught in any given day. The rest of the fish caught shall be returned to the water or natural environment.