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Sustainable fisheries policy demanded
KARACHI, March 31: Speakers at a round table
conference called for a sustainable fisheries
policy to be announced immediately to protect
natural resources, coastline and inland waters ,
and urged the government to introduce a guideline
framework to protect small fishermen.
The conference, organized by the Pakistan
Fisherfolk Forum (PFF) here on Tuesday. was
attended by environmentalists, representatives of
fisherman community and government officials who
spoke at length on the country's fisheries sector.
They also suggested various measures to protect
the sector which provides livelihood to millions
of people.
Dr Tahir Qureshi of the IUCN, Baz Mohammed Junejo,
Director General of Fisheries and Livestock,
Sikander Brohi of SZABIST, Shahid Amjad, a former
director of the National Institute of
Oceanography, Mohammed Ali Shah, President of PFF,
Haji Shafi Jamot, Saeed Baloch, Mustafa Meerani,
Zulfiqar Shah, Ayub Khaskheli and others spoke on
the occasion.
Criticizing the concerned departments' indifferent
attitude, they pointed out that livelihood of
about three million people was at stake.
Dr Tahir Qureshi, quoting reports, said: "A
reasonable flow of fresh water from River Indus
had forced the sea to vacate the land 30-35 acres
per year, but now the sea is eating up a vast
land.
The sea intrusion has played havoc with the
coastal communities and they are leaving their
ancestral abodes towards safer places. There has
been an increasing pressure on the fishing sector
due to a regular influx of population from
different parts of the country and from abroad, a
trend that is rendering the aborigines jobless."
Mohammed Ali Shah said: "We are very much
concerned over the over-exploitation of natural
resources." He observed that fish catch had been
on the declining alarmingly and thousands of
workers in this sector had been rendered jobless
but the government appeared indifferent. He
pledged a continued lobbying and communication
with relevant organizations, environmentalists and
experts to get a sustainable fisheries policy
implemented.
Sikander Brohi was of the view that the decline in
fish catch was a global phenomenon. He noted that
while fish consumption was registering an increase
world over, fish stocks were diminishing.
Baz Mohammed Junejo said that the provincial
government had already chalked out the new
fisheries policy and would be presented to the
assembly soon for approval.
Besides, he added, the government had planned
launching of development schemes along the Sindh
coastline which would greatly benefit the fishing
community.
Participants of the round table conference
criticized the law-enforcement agencies deployed
along the coastal belt for playing a negative role
against fishermen. They also urged the government
not to go for raising a dam or major water
reservoir at the River Indus.
The speakers deplored issuance of licenses to
deep-sea trawlers, use of destructive nets by
fishermen, increasing marine pollution,
over-fishing and other destructive practices.
The DAWN |
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Pakissan.com; Advisory Point
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