May 12, 2002	Sunday	Safar 28, 1423

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THATTA, May 11: Some 90 per cent of fishermen are not being allowed for fishing in the open sea on the pretext of demarcation of sites.

They have been compelled to keep anchored at Kun Jugyoon, Kamro, Chopati, Veer and a number of other creeks.

This was said by representatives of the fishermen while talking to newsmen.

The precondition to demarcate hunting sites in the Arabian Sea along the Thatta coastline, following the conciliation between a fishing contractor and fishermen, is sustaining heavy financial losses to 4,000 fishermen who have kept anchored their 275 fishing vessels at different creeks and are waiting for “go ahead” signal from the conciliators.

From March 29 to date, two big oceanic currents have passed and these vessels could not avail the time. Normally, every vessel catch fish amounting to Rs60,000 in this season.

The representatives said that the 275 vessels had sustained financial losses of Rs25 million due to conspiracies of vested interests.

Fisher Folk Forum chairman Syed Mohammad Ali Shah told newsmen that he was making efforts to get the business restored.

It was learnt that a contractor was not allowing the fishermen to go for hunting on one or the other reason.