KARACHI, March 30: Speakers at a round table conference called for a sustainable fisheries policy to be announced immediately to protect natural resources, coastline and inland waters , and urged the government to introduce a guideline framework to protect small fishermen.

The conference, organized by the Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum (PFF) here on Tuesday. was attended by environmentalists, representatives of fisherman community and government officials who spoke at length on the country's fisheries sector. They also suggested various measures to protect the sector which provides livelihood to millions of people.

Dr Tahir Qureshi of the IUCN, Baz Mohammed Junejo, Director General of Fisheries and Livestock, Sikander Brohi of SZABIST, Shahid Amjad, a former director of the National Institute of Oceanography, Mohammed Ali Shah, President of PFF, Haji Shafi Jamot, Saeed Baloch, Mustafa Meerani, Zulfiqar Shah, Ayub Khaskheli and others spoke on the occasion.

Criticizing the concerned departments' indifferent attitude, they pointed out that livelihood of about three million people was at stake.

Dr Tahir Qureshi, quoting reports, said: "A reasonable flow of fresh water from River Indus had forced the sea to vacate the land 30-35 acres per year, but now the sea is eating up a vast land.

The sea intrusion has played havoc with the coastal communities and they are leaving their ancestral abodes towards safer places. There has been an increasing pressure on the fishing sector due to a regular influx of population from different parts of the country and from abroad, a trend that is rendering the aborigines jobless."

Mohammed Ali Shah said: "We are very much concerned over the over-exploitation of natural resources." He observed that fish catch had been on the declining alarmingly and thousands of workers in this sector had been rendered jobless but the government appeared indifferent. He pledged a continued lobbying and communication with relevant organizations, environmentalists and experts to get a sustainable fisheries policy implemented.

Sikander Brohi was of the view that the decline in fish catch was a global phenomenon. He noted that while fish consumption was registering an increase world over, fish stocks were diminishing.

Baz Mohammed Junejo said that the provincial government had already chalked out the new fisheries policy and would be presented to the assembly soon for approval.

Besides, he added, the government had planned launching of development schemes along the Sindh coastline which would greatly benefit the fishing community.

Participants of the round table conference criticized the law-enforcement agencies deployed along the coastal belt for playing a negative role against fishermen. They also urged the government not to go for raising a dam or major water reservoir at the River Indus.

The speakers deplored issuance of licenses to deep-sea trawlers, use of destructive nets by fishermen, increasing marine pollution, over-fishing and other destructive practices. - PPI