July 25, 2002	Thursday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 14,1423

KARACHI, July 24: Five medium-sized vessels, each having a capacity between 100 and 250 GRT (gross registered tonnage), have started calling at Korangi Fish Harbour (KFH) for deep sea fishing in the country’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

Though in total 20 medium-sized and 10 large vessels have been issued licences by the federal government under the Deep Sea Fishing Policy of 1995 as amended in 2001 but only five have so far called at the KFH.

The five medium-sized vessels, which began their operations early last month, have already made one trip by harvesting around 125 tons of fish catch as against the expected average catch of around 300 tons.

However, Korangi Fisheries Harbour Authority (KFHA) managing director Iqbal Ahmed Turk told Dawn that five other medium-sized vessels were due by the end of next month, and all these vessels will only operate and make catch (fish) in an area between 12 to 35 nautical miles (NM) of the EEC.

The large-sized vessels having 300 to 500 GRT will operate in zone three of the EEZ of the country i.e. beyond 35NM, and in case they do not avail of harbour facility and land their catch at the Karachi Port they will have to pay $3,500 per trip as non-utilization fee to the KFH. Beside, each vessel will also have to pay one million rupees per annum towards KFH development fund, which would generate revenue to the tune of Rs10 million per annum.

Similarly, each medium-sized vessel will have to pay Rs1.5 million towards port development cess per annum. As a result of this Korangi harbour would earn Rs30 million per annum from 20 vessels.

The KFHA MD said that the harbour would only become financially viable if 40 medium-sized vessels were allowed to ply in the area between 12 and 35 NM, against which only 20 vessels had been given licences by the government so far.

On having a strength of 40 medium-sized vessels, he said, the harbour authority would be in a position to generate revenue of around Rs80 million per annum, which would be sufficient to make repayment of loan (about Rs40 million annually) and meet the annual recurring cost and operational expenses of the harbour.

The Korangi fish harbour was built at a cost of Rs938.139 million, including foreign exchange of Rs644.336 million ($26.121 million) was put into operation in November 1996. However, the response of the boat owners, mole holders, fish processors and exporters was not encouraging at all.

Nevertheless, the harbour never had been utilized to its optimum capacity. About two years back when the federal government on the Chief Executive’s directives suspended deep sea finishing, even then only eight to 10 vessels were calling at the harbour.

A huge investment is just going to waste because no long lasting deep sea policy is being adopted by the government and now the vessels have been allowed on a condition that the matter would be reviewed after a period of one year.

There is no proper approach road for the harbour and the Sindh government, which had made commitment to prepare proper road, is dragging its feet for the last several years. Similarly, the harbour area is being encroached by surrounding villagers and there always fear of law and order situation.

Built on most modern lines, the Korangi Harbour is a landmark in a bewilderment but it cries out for proper use and benefit but the most unfortunate are those who live in its proximity but still could not benefit from it.

Against this all those jetties located nearby and belong to strong men of the area are flourishing and also have large number of boats to call.