KARACHI: In a state of panic, on Wednesday, the fishermen, their mothers, sisters, wives and children came out of their homes in the form of a rally to head to the Korangi Fish Harbour to register their grievance with the Ministry of Port and Shipping for issuing licences to 14 deep-sea fishing trawlers from China.

The blue flags of the Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum (PFF) were accompanied by placards highlighting people’s sentiments, calling the deep-sea trawlers unacceptable as they are stealing from the sea.

“We fisher folk are already experiencing severe hardship due to the shortage of marine reserves here. But the federal government’s issuing licences to deep-sea trawlers means completely wiping out us poor people,” said PFF president Mohammad Ali Shah said during his speech near the Korangi Fish Harbour as the protesters were prevented from entering the area by police.

Though their licence process is yet to be completed, six of the 14 deep-sea trawlers that were issued licences have already arrived at the Korangi Fish Harbour. Mr Shah said the trawlers were a means of wasting marine catch. “The trawlers use nets for catching fish in the deep-sea and of the entire lot they just keep 10 per cent of the catch for processing and commercial use while 90 per cent of the dead fish is dumped back into the sea, adding to marine pollution.”

Around three million people in Sindh remain dependent on the local fishing industry for their livelihood. “The government of Sindh should challenge this wrong policy of the Federal Ministry of Port and Shipping, keeping in mind the ground realities. When there is so little for our own consumption how can they invite foreigners? We urge the government to revoke these licences within a week and send these trawlers back to their country,” the protesters said.

Published in Dawn, December 24th, 2015