KARACHI: Lobster fishery along the Sindh-Balochistan coast has almost collapsed due to a significant decline in the catch of this highly priced marine crustacean, experts told Dawn.

They called upon the government to initiate efforts to revive lobster fishery by banning the use of bottom-set gillnets and imposing checks on lobster fishing.

“Though there has been a significant drop in lobster catch over the years, the species is still being caught indiscriminately,” said Mohammad Moazzam Khan, former director general of marine fisheries department, currently working as a technical adviser on marine resources with the World Wide Fund for Nature-Pakistan.

The lobster catch per boat, according to him, has declined from 300 to 400 to three to four specimens over three decades while the price has jumped from (minimum) Rs30 to Rs2,000 now for a single lobster.

“The price of a specimen depends on its type, size and weight. Live lobsters fetch better bargain,” he said, adding that the species had little local consumption and was mainly exported in live, boiled, chilled and frozen forms.

According to experts, two types of lobsters are found in Pakistan; spiny lobster and slipper lobster. The seven species of the spiny lobster found here are: Panulirus polyphagus, Panulirus homarus, Panulirus versicolor, Panulirus ornatus, Panulirus penicillatus (they are found in the coastal and offshore waters) and Puerulus angulatus and Puerulus sewelli (the last two live in the deep sea).

The country has nine species of slipper lobsters; Thenus orientalis, Thenus pariindicus, Thenus indicus, Scyllarides tridacnophaga, Scyllarides haani, Scammarctus batei, Eduarctus martensii, Acantharctus ornatus and Parribacus antarcticus.

Of these, three species of spiny lobsters, Panulirus polyphagus, Panulirus homarus and Panulirus versicolor, are of main commercial importance and are called kikat in local parlance whereas among slipper lobsters, Thenus orientalis and Scyllarides tridacnophaga, have market value and are called jangli lobsters.

Lobsters are found in rocky or reef habitat area in shallow coastal waters (up to a depth of 40m to 50m). Their fishery continues throughout the year with peak season between September and December.

The main breeding season is between January and May when a female lays eggs (about 70,000 to 800,000) depending upon her size.

The main grounds for fishing lobsters along Sindh-Balochistan coast include all rocky areas, for instance, Buleji, Cape Monze, Malan, Omara, Kund Malir, Taq, Sakoni, Bal, Astola Island, Sur, Gwadar, Pushukan, Gunz and Daran in the districts of Karachi, Lasbela and Gwadar.

Lobster fishing, according to Mr Khan, is unregulated in Pakistan, which explains why the country has lost significant stocks of the species.

“Lobster is caught mainly by a bottom-set gillnet which is an indiscriminate fishing gear. It catches lobsters of all sizes as well as other non-target species,” he explained, suggesting a complete ban on the bottom-set gillnet while encouraging the use of friendly gears such as lobster traps.

In order to recover lobster fisheries, he recommended that there was a need to implement the Exclusive Fishery Zone (Regulation of Fishing) Rules 1990 according to which a lobster less than 15cm long could not be caught.

“The Rule 15 of the Exclusive Fishery Zone (Regulation of Fishing) Rules, 1990 also bans catching of berried lobster but the practice is carried on unabated in flagrant violation of rules, causing massive decline in lobster stocks,” he said.

According to the National Geographic website, female lobsters carry their eggs under their abdomens for up to a year before releasing them as larvae into the water.

Lobster fishing, he said, was also adding to marine waste and carried risk for other marine species. “As nets are used on rocky shores, they get damaged easily and are later left in the sea. Abandoned nets pose serious risk to all marine species as they get entangled in them and often die,” he said.

Corroborating reports on reduction in lobster catch, fishermen based in Sindh and Balochistan pointed out that rampant use of small mesh nets and a massive increase in the size of fishing vessels over the years had contributed to the decline in lobster catch.

“My family stopped catching lobsters two years ago because it was no longer economically viable. Lobsters have almost vanished from the wild,” said Mohammad Hanif who now exclusively catches fish in Gwadar.

Mubarak Singho, a seasoned fisherman from Hawkesbay’s Singho village, said: “Not even five per cent of the lobster catch we used to have three decades ago is left now. Trawling has also led to a steep decline in the catch as it sweeps away everything from the sea’s bottom.”

But surprisingly, the government data show robust lobster production and say lobster landing stood at around 1,300 metric tonnes in 2013, according to the Handbook of Fisheries Statistics 2013 compiled by marine fisheries department. Commercial landing ranged between 500 to 1200 MT over the past two decades, it said.

“The data is highly exaggerated and there is a need to determine scientifically the exact lobster landing,” said Tariq Ikram, former chairman of the Pakistan Seafood Industries Association.

According to Mr Ikram, lobster export currently stands at only between 250 and 300 tonnes.

Caption: Egg-bearing spiny lobsters in a container at Karachi fish harbour.

Fahim’s picture: A labourer sorts out slipper lobsters at Karachi fish harbour.

Published in Dawn, January 12th, 2015

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