KARACHI: The two-month ban on catching shrimp and certain types of fish was lifted on Monday as happy fishermen arrived at the fisheries to prepare for their return to the sea.

The Karachi Fisheries Harbour Authority, government of Sindh, had imposed the ban on catching all types of shrimp and four species of fresh water fish — Rahu, Mori, Tala and Calbaro.

The ban, imposed from June 1 to July 31, was followed after 10 years as earlier the government reduced it often after hearing about fishermen’s problems in making ends meet. The ban, though important as it keeps overfishing in check, comes during the breeding season of shrimp and fish. Ramazan and Eid also coincide with this time, increasing difficulties for the poor fisher folk. But this time around all stakeholders wowed to respect the ban as it helps bring some respite for our depleting marine resources.

But the dark clouds have more or less cleared as the boats at the Karachi Fisheries looked good to go. Some had overhauled engines, some new fishing nets spread out on their decks, some had new woodwork done with a fresh coat of paint as the boat owners wisely utilised this time to repair their boats, taking care of whatever needed to be done to have them in shape for another year.

The owner of the boat Kainat, Nasir Khan from Jhang, Punjab, said he was just waiting to load ice on his boat. “We have capacity for 250 ice blocks. As soon as they are loaded, we can leave,” he said while his crew on the deck was busy untangling a new blue fishing net they got made from nearby.

Data Al Saud was another boat there loading on ice. They said they had enough room to store over 1,000 blocks of ice, which would help in keeping their catch fresh for 20 to 25 days. Besides ice they were also taking with them gas cylinders, oil and diesel. “The oil and diesel is our boat’s food and the cylinders are for cooking our food,” said Mohammad Hussain, a crew member from Bangali Para near Machhar Colony.

Asked if they only had fish for their meals when on a fishing expedition, another crew member Mohammad Shafiq, said they were also taking meat and vegetables with them. “When we get fed up with fish, we cook meat and vegetables,” he said.

Naseer Ali, a crew member on board a much bigger boat, Al Furqan, said he hailed from Ranipur, Sindh. The two-month break from fishing, he said, he spent helping on the lands for a meagre daily wage. “Of course the money wasn’t as good as we make catching fish. I have a big family and plenty of mouths to feed and my wife used to fight with me every other day, but when I was leaving yesterday she had tears in her eyes as she bid me farewell. Thank God these two months are over and I’m back to my original work,” he said as the other fishermen there, who also heard him, burst out laughing at his plight.

Published in Dawn, August 2nd, 2016