Parliament Passes Fisheries Bill

The measure was passed by a majority - 70 out of the 74 deputies present after a two-day debate, accroding to All Africa.

MPs agreed on most of the issues in the draft law after most of their queries were answered by a parliamentary commission on agriculture, livestock and environment.

"There was fair participation by the stakeholders during the whole process of the commission's work," Juliana Kantengwa, the vice president of the commission.

The approved bill identifies three types of fishing governed by the law: fishing as a sport or leisure activity; commercial fishing, and scientific fishing, which aims at studying and advancing knowledge of fish and aquaculture resources.

The bill lays down that district authorities will have a duty to make an annual inventory of fishing establishments, fishermen, fishing gears as well as inspecting aquaculture establishments.

Article 9 points out that licence holders shall be required to submit to the organ which issued the licence the production statistical data as well as the fishing gears they have used, All Africa says.

In addition, licences for importing fishing and aquaculture equipment are applied for from the minister responsible for Commerce.

For control purposes, the minister in charge of fisheries and aquaculture may decide on the regulatory measures for the importation and dissemination of fishing and aquaculture equipment as well as fishery and aquaculture production. Also highlighted, among other things, is the issue of waters shared with other countries.

View the All Africa story by clicking here. The approved bill identifies three types of fishing governed by the law: fishing as a sport or leisure activity; commercial fishing, and scientific fishing, which aims at studying and advancing knowledge of fish and aquaculture resources. The bill lays down that district authorities will have a duty to make an annual inventory of fishing establishments, fishermen, fishing gears as well as inspecting aquaculture establishments. Article 9 points out that licence holders shall be required to submit to the organ which issued the licence the production statistical data as well as the fishing gears they have used, All Africa says. In addition, licences for importing fishing and aquaculture equipment are applied for from the minister responsible for Commerce. For control purposes, the minister in charge of fisheries and aquaculture may decide on the regulatory measures for the importation and dissemination of fishing and aquaculture equipment as well as fishery and aquaculture production. Also highlighted, among other things, is the issue of waters shared with other countries. View the All Africa story by clicking here.