Illegal fishing, bad harbour conditions marring fisheries sector in Pakistan

Karachi, Jul 28, 2009 (Asia Pulse Data Source via COMTEX) -- Advisor to Chief Minister Sindh, Ms. Sharmila Faruqui expressed concern over the blatant violation of international law against Illegal, Unreported and Unregistered Fishing in our sea creeks and coastline, saying it has only resulted in European Union ban on Pakistani seafood export but also reduced our such exports to $100 and $1 billion pre annum, respectively.

Talking to a delegation of Pakistan Fisheries Exporters Association comprising its chairman Faisal Iftikhar and founder members Mirza Ishfaque Hussain and Abdul Karim at her office here on Tuesday, she said that over the years due to illegal fishing practices our marine resources are being rapidly depleted. She noted that if immediate steps were not taken to implement the law regarding banning fishing in the creeks (natural hatcheries) and fixing mesh sizes of the nets and ensuring that illegal nets are not used, then not only country would be deprived of huge income through seafood export but also livelihood of hundreds of thousands of fisherman families would be put on stake.

The delegation told the advisor that in sea along coastline in Sindh province, illegal fishing at over 500 spots is carried out under patronage of influential landlords. They said even fish seeds of two to three inch length is being caught with specific nets called malmal dopatta nets. They said that waderas earn commission in illegal auctioning the of such sites. They said such contracts are auctioned for Rs0.1 million to Rs0.2 million or even more. Cemented pillars are installed in creeks and mangroves areas where malmal dopatta nets are being used to catch fish seed. They said this fish seed is sold in Thatta and Karachi markets at Rs3 to Rs5 per kg which is fried and eaten, while if this seed allowed to grow, the fully grown fish could be sold at Rs400 to Rs1000 per kg.

The advisor told the delegation that she has raised issue of detention of Pakistani and Indian fishermen in jails of both countries. She regretted that why contractors avoid installing satellite guided sound wave system costing only Rs50000, wireless system and tracker on a big fishing boat, while they afford Rs6million to Rs10mn cost of such boats.

She noted that tracker and wireless system could warn them when their boats enter borders of other country and satellite guided system would lead them to areas where fish stock is available inside the boundaries of their own country. She also lamented that she has observed that most of fishermen while catching fish in open sea avoid wearing life jackets.

She agreed to suggestion of the delegation that there should be arrangement at official level of training fishermen to use scientific equipments at the boats and carry out safe fishing practices. She contended that Fishermen Cooperative Society and Karachi Fish Harbour Authority should give compensation to poor fisherman families during two months of fishing ban, as these organizations generate hefty revenue from these fishermen.

She emphasized the need to improve condition of Karachi Harbour, Korangi Harbour and small fishing jetties as their poor hygienic conditions have resulted in EU ban of Pakistan seafood export. She feared that level of Marine pollution would go higher, causing more damage to marine life as encroachment along coastline, particularly in Korangi Harbour and Bin Qasim Port area is continued.

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