KARACHI, Aug 2: National fish stock has depleted to a dangerous level due to over-fishing and lack of conservation methods.

To assess the existing fish stocks, the Ministry of Food Agriculture and Livestock (Minfal) has arranged a survey in the last quarter of this year so that a conservation strategy could be formed on the basis of latest fish data.

According to data released by the Marine Fisheries Department, the shellfish stocks (shrimps, lobsters, crabs, etc.,) have dropped to 28,166 tons of landing against the maximum sustainable yield of 47,500 tons.

In the lust of early profits, the two-month fishing ban period has been reduced to one month and number of boats netting shellfish has increased against the conservationists’ advice to reduce their number, according to marine experts.

To conserve the fish stocks, Minfal has set up a committee to study the breeding pattern, which according to fishermen, has changed over the years.

According to the data, the total fish stocks had been estimated at 11,407,300 tons, with a maximum sustainable yield at 340,190 tons. The data was obtained through various marine surveys carried out in 1974, 1977, 1883 and 1991.

The new fish stocks assessment survey, to be undertaken with the FAO assistance, is due to cost Rs496 million. According to sources at the marine fisheries department, the most comprehensive survey of fish stock was carried out by the scientific vessel Frittjob Nense, which stayed in Pakistani waters for six months.

Efforts are being made to acquire services of this vessel again. The last survey was carried out by a Pakistani vessel, Tehqeeq Machera, with foreign assistance in 1991.

Minfal is also trying to charter an Indonesian vessel for the survey. It has also plan to have its own research vessel built at Karachi Shipyard for which $13 million has already been earmarked. Norway is also helping Pakistan in fish stock survey and it has granted six million Korona.

The new survey in coastal areas of Sindh and Balochistan will stretch to four seasons, including the monsoon season (July-Sept) considered to be the breeding season for fish. Two surveys would be carried out during this period to asses stock before and after breeding.

According to the data collected during past surveys, country’s total stock of various fish and their landing are: small pelagics 700,000 tons (landing 96,658 tons); demarsals 500,000 tons (168,225 landing); large pelagics 88,000 tons (landing 47,141 tons); shellfish 171,000 tons (landing 28,166 tons); mesopelagics 10,000,000 tons with no landing.

The province-wise breakup shows that fish landing in Sindh dropped from 270,522 tons in 2003 to 202,975 tons in 2007.

Similarly, in Balochistan fish landings dropped from 126,755 tons in 2003 to 137,082 tons in 2007.