September 15, 2008	Monday	Ramazan 14, 1429

KARACHI, Sept 14: The Sindh government has decided to take action against the boat owners, who are using illegal fishing nets in the creeks and thereby damaging the juvenile fish species and depriving small fishermen of their livelihood, it has been officially learnt.

The government has already banned the use of illegal nets, locally known as boola, guja and katra, to protect the fish resources in the creeks.

However, rampant use of these banned nets is a cause of concern for local fishermen. They complain that fish catch has dwindled due to use of illegal fishing nets and if this trend is not arrested the coastal economy may collapse.

Official sources say the Sindh government, taking serious note of the situation, has sought cooperation of the Maritime Security Agency and other agencies concerned for better surveillance to curb the use of illegal fishing nets in the creeks.

They disclose that Sindh Fisheries Minister Zahid Ali Burghari has directed the director fisheries to take all appropriate measures to stop this practice with the collaboration of other agencies and devise a joint strategy to face the challenge.

Small fishermen, who use wooden boats and depend on creeks for their livelihood, have called for proper enforcement of the ban to protect the marine resource.

In the past, small fishermen repeatedly approached the media to express their concern over the constant use of illegal nets and the relevant authorities’ indifferent attitude over the destruction of sea resources.

The previous government, despite several assurances given to small fishermen about enforcement of the ban, could not solve the problem, they lament. The present government, however, will enforce the ban, they hope.

Small boat-owners depending on shore catch had always remained victims of the destructive nets. They urged the government on behalf of their community to declare such nets strictly banned in order to ensure protection of the livelihood of small fishermen and juvenile fish.

The local fishermen believe that illegal immigrants, in connivance with influential figures, have been using the fine nets. These influential people, they allege, also provide them shelter in specific areas of the Sindh coast and also protection from any legal action.

In exchange, these influential people easily exploit them by taking away more than 50 per cent of their catch, or purchasing their catch at 50 per cent lesser than the market price.

The fishermen allege that the dangerous and destructive fishing nets had first been introduced by illegal immigrants in Sindh.

A survey shows that hundreds of illegal immigrants, who have taken refuge in the coastal belt of Sindh, are mostly engaged in fishing sector.

Interviews with various sources in the sector hint that the immigrants are recruited by sea-lords as fish workers on a very low remuneration. These sea-lords are in virtual command on the fishing business in their respective localities.

They have also built small huts to accommodate the illegal immigrants who are forced to pay a monthly rent for the facility, generally guarded by armed men.

Thousands of illegal immigrants, especially Bengalis and Burmese, are engaged in illegal fishing in the coastal areas of Sindh.