The community of fishermen's associations (FUO) in this region, has asked the government to prevent the use of locally made seafood fishing lights, as they endanger the health of consumers, pollute Lake Victoria as well as encourage illegal fishing.

"Illegal fishing is due to the lights being too bright, between 15 to 30 watts, approximately three to six times the level allowed by the government, which is five to nine watts," FUO Director, Juvenary Matagili, he said.

"The Fisheries Research Institute in the country (TAFIRI) found suitable wats for seafood fishing, but the fishermen are stubborn.

The light of the local lights is so bright that it attracts even children who are far away from the seafood traps, which are also caught when they are not yet of age," he said and added:  

"Even children's sardines are also caught, a step that causes a decrease in the produce of Lake Victoria."

In terms of consumer health, Matagili has said: "They are in danger because during fishing the lights are attached to the side of the canoes, they get wet by being hit by the waves and then their batteries leak water."

And when transporting sardines to land, a lamp is placed on it (sardines), while the liquid from the battery drips onto the stew.

"This is dangerous because we believe that the battery sauce that flows over the seafood is poisonous, and the vendors at Mialon who buy seafood do not clean them properly before frying them.

The government should look into this issue," he stressed.

Regarding environmental pollution, the Director has said that many times the lamps made of wood and plastics become unusable when exposed to water, so fishermen throw them into the lake.