KARACHI, Aug 28: The vice-chancellor of Karachi University, Dr Pirzada Qasim, has stressed the importance of the coastal and marine resources for the livelihood of coastal communities.

Addressing a workshop, jointly organised by the KU Marine Reference Collection and Resource Centre, KU Institute of Environmental Studies and the PCSIR Laboratories Complex on Monday, Prof Pirzada Qasim expressed severe concern over shortage of freshwater discharge in oceans.

He said that the shortage of freshwater discharge, an element of environmental degradation, caused stress to the inhabiting fauna and flora thereby causing depletion of resources combined with other factors. He stressed to hold studies on ‘environmental degradation’ and its impact on living marine resources.

Dean of Science Faculty Prof (Dr) Ejaz Rasool spoke on the role of fisheries sector in the economy of the country and said that these resources should be augmented through proper management, exploitation and aqua-culture.

PCSIR Labs Complex Director-General Dr Tanzil Haider Usmani informed the participants about work done in the fishing sector by the PCSIR.

He said that the studies carried out were broad-based and aimed at maximum and sustainable utilisation of marine resources particularly making use of underutilised/ trash fish and processing discards of different fishery commodities for the development of value added products.

“The trash fish comprised about 40 per cent of the total fish catch, which is being utilised mostly for the production of fish meal,” he observed adding that the value-added products, such as fish protein concentrate and fish hydrolysate, had been developed from the trash fish.

He said that a range of products had been developed and some had been already commercialised. He said that technologies had been developed for the products such as ready to eat fish, canned fish, fish sauce, fish silage, and shark fins. The processing discard of shrimps had successfully been converted to Chitin and Chitosan, he added.

In her welcome address, KU Marine Reference Collection Resource Centre Director Dr Quddusi B. Kazmi emphasised the need of hard work to manage a responsible fishery. She also urged for giving a change to existing stocks to replenish and recuperate by reducing wastage, exploitation of untapped resources and eco-friendly farming.She said that this would result in economic gains to both fishermen and foreign exchange earning for the country. —PPI