ISLAMABAD, Aug 20: The Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum (PFF) and the People’s Rights Movement (PRM) have demanded of the government to alleviate the suffering of thousands of fishermen who have been directly affected by the oil spill near Karachi harbour.

A statement issued here by the PFF on Wednesday said at least 20,000 tons of oil spilt into the ocean, and the marine life had been severely damaged in the vicinity.

The majority of economic activity along the coast is directly linked to fishing, with over 2,000,000 fishermen deriving their livelihood from the ocean, the statement added.

It said the meagre incomes of thousands of families had been badly affected, in some cases severed, and food is running scarce after two weeks of no fishing. Those who have traditionally fished along the shores by wading in and casting their nets make an average of Rs200 a day by catching small boi fish which sell for Rs15-20 a kilogram. Now that the ocean is completely dead for miles, the fishermen have been deprived of their only means of survival, it added.

The fishermen have lodged an appeal with the local Nazim, Akhtar Sulangi, but the local government has taken no interest in their plight. The state must take immediate action to provide relief to these families. Small fishermen, especially those without boats, have been facing numerous problems over the last few years.

The ocean waters have been rapidly deteriorating with a huge number of pesticides, oils, and various metals being deposited in them by Karachi’s municipal authorities, and the catch has been substantially reduced.

The statement said additionally, the police and other authorities had been extorting a large portion of the fishermen’s daily income in exchange for allowing them to access the waters that their ancestors fished in. The oil spill, however, has created a state of emergency that must be improved, it added.

According to the statement, the PFF is the representative organization of over three million fishermen and will continue to agitate against oppressive policies and actions on part of the authorities until the passage of a national fishing policy, protection of environment, and its other demands are met.