Rumonge : fishing disrupted by lack of fuel

According to a fishing boat owner, fish production has fallen since the country experienced a fuel crisis. Fishermen no longer receive a sufficient quantity of fuel despite the distribution of around twenty liters by administration authorities. As a result, prices on the fish market have increased significantly. While a kilogram of Ndagaa (small fish) cost between 25,000 and 30,000 Burundi francs at the start of this year, the same kilogram today costs 100,000 francs in Rumonge (southwest Burundi). INFO SOS Médias Burundi

Administration authorities have established a system for distributing fuel to fishermen by introducing cards in order to better control the traceability of this product.

The measure was well received by fishermen even if they believe that the delivery remains insufficient.

“The measure is in itself good but the quantity is insufficient. We are given 20 liters while we need 40 liters per night,” laments a fisherman we met on the banks of Lake Tanganyika in Rumonge (southwest Burundi). Fishermen no longer go far into the lake due to lack of fuel. This has an impact on fish production.

According to residents of Rumonge, the price of fish has increased significantly.

“A kg of Ndagaa is currently 100,000 francs whereas at the beginning of this year, it was bought for between 25,000 to 30,000 francs,” specifies a resident of the town center of Rumonge.

In addition to this increase in fish prices, several species of fish are no longer caught. Fishermen say there are fish living in deep waters far from the bank where Burundian fishermen can no longer operate due to lack of fuel.

Fish consumers, traders as well as fishermen and fishing boat owners are calling on the government to quickly resolve the fuel issue.