08 August 2004	Sunday	21 Jamadi-us-Saani 1425

KARACHI, Aug 7: Speakers at a seminar on Saturday underlined the need for sustainable fisheries policy to carry out coastal resource management in a better way ensuring complete protection to and rehabilitation of the coastal resources as well as fresh water biodiversity.

"Sustainable fisheries policy would not only result in better utilization of coastal resources but would also guarantee the livelihood of millions of people, which is presently at stake due to over exploitation of fish stock and degradation of environment at coastal areas," they observed.

The seminar on "Sustainable fisheries policy and coastal management" was organized by the Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum.

The environment and fisheries experts expressed their concern over the government negligence towards this sector, which was declining due to poor and anti-fishermen policies. In this regard, they took strong exception to the contract system of inland fishing adopted by the Pakistan Rangers in Manchar, Keenjhar, Badin and some other areas of the province. They demanded that the contract system be replaced with old system of issuing licenses for inland fishing. It was stated the Rangers, who were supposed to guard geographical borders of the country, had occupied all resources of fishermen by awarding the contracts allegedly to people of their choice.

They noted that depletion of marine resources would prove catastrophe for the people of coastal areas. Besides, it would deprive the country of revenue, otherwise, generated through fisheries export.

Karamat Ali, representative of the Pakistan Institute of Labour Education and Research, said that integrated policies were needed to bring improvement in all sectors as all were co- related. He said that no visible change could be brought in by focussing on one particular area and ignoring others.

"A holistic approach is needed to check the depletion of marine resources and to mitigate the sufferings of fishermen caused by a number of reasons," he urged.

Sikandar Brohi of Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Institute of Science and Technology, in his presentation, said the deep sea fishing policy had played havoc with the livelihood of poor fishermen by over exploitation of marine resources leaving nothing for local fishermen to earn.

Besides, he mentioned that shortage of fresh water in Sindh had aggravated the situation as the entire Indus Delta had been rendered barren due to non-release of fresh water from Kotri Barrage to downstream. "Shortage of fresh water has also adversely affect inland fishing, as most of the lakes have dried up," he added.

Mr Brohi pointed out that government's apathy towards this sector could be gauged from the fact that no fish stock survey had been launched so far to ascertain the actual marine resources of the country.

He highlighted some of aspects of sustainable fishing policy, proposed and prepared by the Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum and stressed for early approval of it to check further depletion and decline in the very regard.

Fishermen Cooperative Society chairman Haji Shafi Jamote criticized the contract system of fishing in Badin and demanded that the same must be abolished forthwith. However, he said that if there was any hurdle to take away the contract system from Pakistan Rangers, the fishermen should be allowed to sell fishes wherever they want.

The speakers also expressed deep concern over the excessive use of illegal nets by deep-sea trawlers and took serious notice of decline in fisheries sector.

Among others, the seminar was addressed by PFF chairman Mohammad Ali Shah, PFF secretary Saeed Baloch, and some representatives of fishermen communities in Karachi, Thatta and Badin. -PPI