KARACHI, March 6: Describing deep-sea fishing as disastrous for the coastal economy of Sindh and Balochistan, speakers at a seminar on Tuesday urged the government to put a complete ban on it and review its existing policy of allowing deep-sea fishing in the country’s territorial waters by cancelling licences issued to the owners of deep-fishing trawlers.

They argued that huge trawlers would not only sweep away the marine resources and but also deprive small fishermen from their livelihood as their small rickety boats and cotton nets would in no way match for the big automated trawlers and nylon or plastic nets that the foreigners use in catching fish.

The seminar titled ‘Privatisation of waters and industrial fishing by deep-sea trawlers’ was organised by the Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum and it was chaired by PFF chief Mohammad Ali Shah. Among others, former senator Taj Hyder, Balochistan MPA Jan Mohammad Buledi, Professor Noman Ahmed, Ali Arslan and Fishermen Cooperative Society Director Haji Shafi Mohammad Jamote addressed the seminar.

Deep-sea trawlers had been inflicting heavy losses to the country by destroying its valuable resources, they said adding that the result of years of unfettered deep-sea fishing was a significant depletion in the quantity and variety of fish stocks in the country’s economic zone.

They stressed the need of framing a sustainable fisheries policy ensuring socio-economic needs of the fishermen communities by taking representatives of the communities into confidence.

Expressing concern over the plight of fishermen, they regretted that the community living in abject poverty had been neglected in the past. The speakers urged all political parties and civil society organisations to raise their voice against injustices being perpetrated on fishermen in the name of development.

Professor Noman and Ali Arslan criticised the privatisation policy saying that it had also affected the fisheries sector. They said the policies being pursued by the rulers were only serving the interest of global capital. Under this policy, they said only the interests of a privileged class were being promoted while the interests of majority of people were being ignored.

They argued that the situation would not change unless all stakeholders were united and resist the oppressive forces.

Balochistan MPA Jan Mohammad Buledi said the mafia which was exploiting the marine resources was the same which was ruling the country. He said it was not possible for a single organisation to fight this powerful mafia. He urged all the stakeholders to join hands to fight the corrupt mafia which was exploiting the coastal resources of Sindh and Balochistan.

Fishermen Cooperative Society Director Haji Shafi Mohammad Jamote said fishermen had always opposed the deep-sea fishing. He said in fact this policy proved to be counter productive as the interests of local fishermen had been ignored.

Former Senator Taj Hyder stressed the need of assessing the fish stock regularly.