JAMSHORO: Speakers at a seminar on ‘Education and research on coastal fisheries management’ described fisheries as one of the most neglected subject and urged the authorities concerned to pay due attention to it.

Fisheries experts, fishermen community representatives, leaders of the business community relating to fishing and livestock, teachers and students attended the seminar in a large number, says an SU press release.

The seminar was organised by the Sindh University’s centre for coastal and deltaic studies on its Thatta campus in collaboration with the livestock & fisheries department in connection with ‘World fisheries day’, observed on Monday. It was presided over by Thatta campus pro-vice chancellor Prof Dr Sarfraz Hussain Solangi. Fisheries scholar Ghulam Muham­mad Mahar, who was the chief guest at the seminar, said that a memorandum of understanding should be signed the Sindh government and academic institutions for identifying coastal issues and their solutions.

Moazzam Khan of the World Wildlife Fund-Pakistan stressed the need for a regular monitoring and studies of coastal fisheries to ensure proper develop of the fisheries sector.

Khawar Parvez Awan of the inland fisheries at Hyderabad called for promotion of “the culture of inland fisheries” i.e. finfish, shrimps, crabs, oysters, mussels etc.

Faisal Iftikhar, who heads the fisheries development board, Islamabad, observed that coastal areas of the country provided natural grounds for finfish and shellfish. What was needed was only to promote the culture of inland fisheries under proper guidance, he added.

RSN Jangua, the project director of the Feeding Pakistan American Soya Association told the audience that supply of proper feeding and aeration to acculturation fish for a better fish farming was vital to earn reasonable profits in this sector.

Prof Dr Muhammad Younis Laghari of the department of freshwater biology and fisheries proposed that the fishing community should switch over from mere fishing to broader fishing culture by adopting modern methods and systems like using cages, and pens for keeping fish stocks and ensuring maximum benefits from ecologically rich habitats.

Ghulam Mustafa Gopang of the research and development fisheries was of the view that through education and research, experiments should be held and the observations and techniques found beneficial be implemented. He called for sensitising the fishing community about new trends.

Allah Dino Shah, the principal scientific officer at the National Institute of Oceanography and researcher Dr Tariq, and other experts including Naveed Ahmed Abro and Khalid Mahmood

highlighted the importance of quality control and sustainable fishing methods like use of appropriate gears and crafts.

Prof Dr Mukhtiar Ahmed Mahar, Abdul Majeed Chachar, Dr Mir Allahdad Talpur, Zulfiqar Ali Larik, Hazoor Bux Khoso and Thatta district fisheries officer Dr Abdul Jabbar Memon also spoke.

In his presidential remarks, Prof Dr Sarfraz Hussain Solangi observed that fisheries was the most neglected area of the livestock component. He said the seminar was organised to highlight the factors contributing to the neglect and recommend measures to promote the sector as a whole.

He thanked the Livestock and Fisheries Minister Muhammad Ali Malkani and SU vice chancellor Prof Kalhoro for patronising and supporting the sector for uplift of the local fisherman community and growth of the sector.

Conference on model UN ends

The three-day conference on a ‘model United Nation’ concluded after hectic deliberations held in the Shaikh Ayaz auditorium of the Sindh University’s faculty of arts on its Jamshoro campus.

Chief guest Prof Dr Muhammad Siddique Kalhoro, the SU vice chancellor, and guest of honour Ghulam Muhammad Bhutto, the registrar, presented thanked the trainers, students and all other people who actively took part in the deliberations.

Dr Fida Hussain Chandio, the bureau of students tutorial and guidance director, presented a detailed report on the conference and shared with audience the recommendations of the model UN committees, which dealt with different national and international issues during the deliberations.

Prof Dr Kalhoro gave away shields to mock UN officials and directors of the committees that had made arrangements for the conference.

In his brief speech, the vice chancellor appreciated the trainers and participants for their highly professional input.

A ‘mega music concert’ was the last feature of the conference.

Published in Dawn November 22nd, 2016