KARACHI, Sept 20: The Sindh fisheries department has urged the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) to help develop fisheries sector so that ban on seafood exports to the EU could be removed.

A senior official in the fisheries department told Dawn that several proposals have been submitted to the TDAP for development of shrimp farming, breeding of Tuna and sweet water fish Tilopya, which have great demand in the West.

He revealed that the TDAP had agreed to arrange training of fishermen.

Use of substandard fishing boats and unhygienic handling of fish catch by the fishermen are the main causes of ban on seafood exports from Pakistan.

The TDAP has huge funds in the form of export marketing development fund (EMDF). The fund is also raised through export development surcharge (EDS) charged on all export shipments at the rate of 0.25 per cent.

This fund is meant for development of exports in various sectors, but the TDAP is yet to release any funds for modernisation of fishing sector, including fishing boats and allied structure at the fish harbour.

Exporters complain that both the TDAP and KFHA have not made any serious effort for lifting of EU ban on seafood exports, which accounts for 40 per cent of the total seafood exports. It fetches higher price compared to seafood exports to the Middle East, Far East and Africa.

A leading exporter, Abrar Ahmed, expressed his dismay over the slow pace of work on fish harbour and boats upgradation as required by the EU.

Fisheries Development Commissioner Dr Mohammad Hayat has not yet given any date for inviting the EU mission for inspection of harbour facilities.

He said that the federal government had assigned the Sindh government to modernise about 200 fishing boats, after which the Minfal would invite the EU team for inspection.

Fish exporters have blamed both the TDAP and Karachi Fish Harbour Authority for not doing enough to help resume seafood exports to EU, banned for almost two years.