QUETTA: The Balochistan government has decided to divide its 750km coastal line into seven zones to stop large trawlers from illegally fishing in the provincial waters.

The decision was taken in a meeting chaired by Chief Secretary Mathar Niaz Rana on Monday to review the steps taken by the authorities and agencies concerned to stop illegal trawling along the Makran coast.

The participants noted that dividing Balochistan’s coastal line into seven zones would help security agencies take action against the offenders.

It was decided that the police and the Levies Force would be working with other agencies to curb the menace of illegal trawling.

Mr Rana directed the secretary and the director general of the Balochistan fisheries department to increase coordination with the Maritime Security Agency and the Coast Guard for taking effective measures against illegal trawlers.

The fishermen’s representatives informed the meeting that the number of illegal trawlers in Makran, which had come down recently, was once again on the rise. They said that they had personally seen trawlers from Sindh in several areas of Kalmat and Kahpar.

Gwadar’s Deputy Commissioner Jamil Baloch informed the meeting that there were some reports of illegal trawlers in Kalmat, Ormara, Sarbandar and Kahpar areas, but the number was fewer than before.

He said the fisheries department was patrolling the waters, but some trawlers were benefiting from a lack of coordination among security agencies due to which no action could be taken against them.

Published in Dawn, February 1st, 2022