THE government has announced that stern measures to control illegal fishing and disputes between farmers and pastoralists have significantly increased the contribution of the sector to the country's economy.

Illegal fishing activities in the Lake Zone that account for 64 per cent of the total volume of fisheries exported has seriously affected the sector as fishing of premature Nile Perch has listed a high record of 96.6 per cent.

Minister for Livestock and Fisheries Development Luhaga Mpina told the Parliament when tabling the ministry's 66.8bn/- budget estimates and expenditure for the financial year 2020/2021 that illegal fishing had decreased by 80 per cent in freshwaters and 100 per cent in the Indian Ocean across the country.

The ministry has also put in place plans for an aquaculture project that includes cage fish farming in the Lake Victoria and Indian Ocean," he said, adding: "Other activities will include pond fish farming, fish hatchery and a fish feed plant."

With the government working hard on the fishing industry, Members of Parliament were of the view that the government must intensify a similar approach in the livestock sector where imports of milk and beef remained relatively high despite massive livestock in the country.