KARACHI, Nov 21: A major decrease in fish-catch has been reported by small fishermen living in the coastal areas of Sindh because of overfishing in the sea.

Official sources confirmed the downward trend in the fish-catch, but they could not identify the exact reasons for this decrease.

They however, admit that pollution in seawater, overfishing and the operation of deep-sea trawlers could be some of the reasons for the decrease.

Interviewed by Dawn, fishermen said overfishing was one of the main causes of the destruction of coastal resources.

At the same time, they said the pollution caused by various factors in the sea had also contributed to the extinction of valuable species.

They say the practice of continuing fishing for 24 hours without giving rest to fish has greatly contributed to this situation.

They point out that in the past there were indigenous local ethics about fishing in the community. According to these practices, fishing was done according to the sea tides and during certain fishing seasons.

But the present fishing trends have badly disturbed the system. The traditional ethics of fishing have been disregarded.

They point out that the centuries-old fishing methods disallowed hunting during hatching season for the fish.

Similarly, traditional fishermen had been careful not to catch small fish that is, they used net with big mesh size, which would automatically allow the small fish to pass through and flee.

Besides, they had learnt, generation after generation, which place to go for fishing and not to disturb certain areas for the sake of having a regular supply of fish.

However, driven by the urge of extracting more and more resources for monetary gains now fishermen resort to the practice of overfishing, that is, fishing round the clock.

Deep-sea fishing has further aggravated the situation. Fishermen say deep-sea fishing trawlers, called factory ship, are virtually sweeping our sea resources.

Being fully mechanized and computerized, these deep-sea trawlers do fishing non-stop and in this process catch millions of tons of fish with their lengthy trawl nets.

Fishermen argue that these trawlers do fishing day and night, giving no rest to the fish. In this process, these trawlers catch hundreds of tons of such fish also, which is small or unmarketable in the international markets.

Considered discards, these fish are again thrown in the sea dead or dying.

The operation of deep-sea fishing trawlers were halted as the federal government, due to pressure from the local fishing communities, had cancelled their licences. However, now their licences have been revived.

At the same time mechanization of fishing fleet has also greatly contributed to overfishing.

Local fishermen say illegal immigrants engaged in fishing in the coastal waters of Sindh are also contributing to overfishing.

They claim that illegal immigrants usually do fishing for 24 hours, which has resulted in the depletion of fish resources. Besides overfishing, they are also responsible for using destructive nets in the creeks of Sindh, which are destroying the breeding grounds of the fish and shrimp species.

The local communities allege that the dangerous and destructive fishing nets like boolo and gujjo were first introduced by illegal immigrants on the Sindh coast.

The Sindh Government has imposed a ban on the use of these destructive nets in coastal creeks, but illegal immigrants still use them with the support of influential people, who have also given refuge to them in specific areas of the Sindh coast.

These influentials easily exploit them by taking away more than 50 per cent of their catch, or by buying their catch at 50pc less than the market price.

Consequently, local fishermen say, due to overfishing their fish-catch has fallen to an alarmingly low level, and there is a drastic decline in the catch of large-size shrimps.

This situation is threatening the livelihood of thousands of local fishermen. Such a situation warrants an early action not only by the government but also by civil society.

Pakistan’s coastline of 1,050 km is divided into two major areas. The Sindh coast, about 350-km long, extends from Karachi to the Indian border.

The Balochistan coast extends from the west of Karachi to the Iranian border and possesses a much narrower continental shelf (15 to 50 km) with a number of bays along its length.