4 killed as Tanzania police clash with illegal fishermen

A policeman and three villagers were killed in a gunfight between law enforcers and locals accused of illegally fishing on Lake Victoria, an official said Tuesday.

The lake, like many of East Africa's so-called Great Lakes, has been hard hit by overfishing, leading to increasing clashes between those plying its waters and authorities.

John Mongella, the governor of Mwanza region in northern Tanzania, told ITV Television a fight broke out between local fishermen and a police unit battling illegal fishing on Monday.

"Shots were fired, killing three villagers. The villagers then shot the person heading the patrol unit," said Mongella.

Tanzanian authorities have stepped up patrols on the lake.

Jumanne Muliro, police commander for the Mwanza region, said the police unit had seized nets used for illegal fishing on the island of Siza.

"The village chief called the owners of the nets who, upon arrival, attacked our unit," he said, adding police then opened fire.

Lake Victoria, which stretches into Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda and whose catchment also touches Burundi and Rwanda, is known for its unique biodiversity.

Last year, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) warned that plant and animal life in Lake Victoria was being "decimated", with 20 percent of species facing extinction.

This was due to climate change, industrial and agricultural pollution, and poor fishing practices.

A report warned this could prove disastrous for lake communities.

Worldwide, overfishing is upending delicate ecosystems, but also impacting the livelihoods of millions.

In east Africa, conflict is growing over ever-scarcer lake resources.

Uganda has stepped up security on lakes Edward and Albert, which straddle the Democratic Republic of Congo whose fishermen increasingly venture into Ugandan waters due to depleted stocks on their side.

Related Links
Africa News - Resources, Health, Food

Tweet

Thanks for being there;
We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain.

With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords.

Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year.

If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.

SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter
$5+ Billed Monthly

paypal only

SpaceDaily Contributor
$5 Billed Once

credit card or paypal

One dead, 14 wounded in clash near DR Congo gorilla sanctuary
Goma, Dr Congo (AFP) July 19, 2019
One person was killed and 14 were injured in clashes near a gorilla sanctuary in DR Congo where there has been mounting friction between park guards and local Pygmies, sources said Friday. The violence occurred near the Kahuzi Biega National Park, a UNESCO heritage site in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo that is a haven for the world's largest gorilla species. "A conservation patrol which was pursuing two poachers was ambushed on Wednesday by Pygmies armed with machetes and bows and arrows, ... read more