Karachi is the only developed maritime hub in Pakistan. It houses the largest and the oldest fisheries community. Seafood industries, researchers and investors have been showing interest in and around the coastal areas of Sindh. The contribution of Sindh fisheries is immense when compared to Balochistan. Sindh’s coastline contains 71% of Pakistan’s fisheries resources, which includes the Arabian Sea, estuaries and inland lakes. Around 400,000 people in the province depend directly on the sector; the majority of them in the district of Badin.
While listening to an ordinary fisherman of Bhit Island near Karachi coast, one can clearly understand that there is a massive communication gap between fishers and all other stakeholders, whether they are policy makers, scientists or government officials. Level of understanding, information about marine resources and knowledge about modern trends in fishing business is very low amongst the Pakistani fishermen. The depletion of resources, human induced environmental issues as well as implementation of regulatory frameworks/policies are some serious challenges faced by the marine fisheries sector in Sindh. However, the conversation with the representatives of Bhit Island, Khada market, Younasabad during the occasion of world fisheries day 2019, it has been surfaced that the issues of fishermen are different than that of policy makers and government officials. Poor socio-economic conditions, financially impartiality, access to the better markets and basic health and education needs are their concerns.
In Pakistan non-fishing season was introduced for catching shrimp during the month of June and July in 1983. According to some experts, this practice of fishing has been proved to have a positive impact on the sustainability of the fisheries sector and needs to be extended to all forms of fishing in the months of June and July. It became a compulsory requirement due to unfavorable weather conditions in June-July. It is obvious that Fishermen find it difficult to make both ends meet during the non-fishing season.
Although Government has extended some financial assistance to the needy members of the fishing community through Zakat, but they require in finding alternate means of employments during banned season. Fish seed stocks are regularly released in targeted areas in order to increase the fish potential for livelihood of the fishermen. During the year 2018-19 about 8.00 million fish seed was stocked in the above waters. But, unfortunately it seems that marine fisheries and challenges to the coastal communities are not on the priority list of the Government of Sindh. As a matter of fact, sustainability of marine fishery in the province of Sindh requires improved governance mechanism and changes in the perspective of the main stakeholders. It is imperative to focus more on long-term goals. In this regard, kind of assistance offered to inland fishers should also be extended to coastal fishermen.
Strick measures should be taken to control land-based pollution and sea-based sources to ensure the development healthy oceanic environment. There should be emphasizes should be on strict implementation with regards to use of banned nets; both at harbor by respective fish harbor authorities as well as at sea by the Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA). It should be ensured that, if found, such illegal nets should be immediately destroyed or be auctioned by cutting their cod end rendering them to be ineffective for catching small fish. In some areas, people have adopted destructive approaches like trash fishing, which is harmful for fish populations as it prevents juvenile fish from reaching adult size and breeding. These nets have been banned by the government for use in both the inland and marine waters of Sindh. However, the practice continues, which needs regulation.
by: Abeer Arshad
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