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KARACHI, May 30: A representative assembly of fishermen communities and associations engaged in fisheries sector on Sunday decided to launch a campaign from June 1 against the decision of imposing a controversial two-month seasonal ban (June and July) on fishing in Sindh.
They termed the decision onslaught on the economy of small fishermen. They maintained that the controversial seasonal ban had been imposed since 1980's on the pretext of breeding season, but, the ban had never been enforced effectively because the exact season of breeding could not be determined as yet.
Under these circumstances, they said, when the exact period of breeding was not clear the fisheries officials should have consulted the representatives of fishermen community and other stake-holders for a unanimous decision.
They argued that if the proposed ban was essential in view of the breeding season why foreign fishing trawlers were allowed to fish in the country's sea waters. The assembly, called by the Shamspir Fishermen Jamat head Haji Mohammad Yunis, was also addressed by the heads of other fishermen communities and associations including Haji Shafi Mohammad Jamote from Ibrahim Haideri, Haji Ibrahim Kachi from Baba Bhit.
Khan Mir, Habibullah Khan, Irsalan Khan, Majid Motani, Shafi Mosani and others also spoke on the occasion. They vehemently condemned the Provincial Minister for Fisheries and Livestock, Sardar Manzoor Ali Panhwar, for ignoring the suggestions made by representatives of fisher folk who had proposed that instead of June, the ban should be imposed in July and August.
The fishermen regretted that the minister, who was also the Fishermen Cooperative Society's chairman, did not honour his commitment. Unfolding plan of the protest campaign, they said that in the first phase the fisherfolk would stage a sit-in in front of the FCS chairman's office at Karachi Fish Harbour.
In the second phase, the meeting decided to hold a protest rally in front of Karachi Press Club. They would also hold a press conference to highlight the problems of fisherfolk at the KPC.
In the third phase, the speakers disclosed that a 24-hour- long sit-in would be staged on Mauripur Road as a mark of solidarity with fishermen. The speakers vehemently criticized the policies of FCS chairman and demanded his immediate resignation.
Haji Mohammad Yunis said the fishermen could achieve their rights by a joint struggle and urged the fishermen to shun their petty differences and join the June 1 campaign in large numbers.
DEEP-SEA FISHING: The representatives of fishermen urged the government to review its deep-sea fishing policy and impose a complete ban on it. According to them, foreign deep-sea trawlers' operation proved disastrous for the small fishermen.
The huge trawlers, they said, used to sweep away the entire sea resources sparing nothing for small fishermen. They pointed out that a sharp decline had been noticed in fishing catch after the revival of deep-sea fishing through foreign trawlers.
Maintaining that the situation has been turning worse after the restoration of deep-sea trawlers' activities in the Pakistani territorial waters, they warned that millions of small fishermen would face starvation if immediate steps were not taken to stop the operation of foreign trawlers.
The fishermen also urged the government to put a complete ban on illegal nets - Boola, Guja and Katra - which are harmful for the growth of juvenile fish species.
Haji Shafi Mohammad Jamote suggested that the government should frame a new national fisheries policy instead of promoting deep-sea fishing. He said, "A survey should be conducted to assess our fish stock so that we could pan the operation of boats according to our needs."
Criticizing FCS chairman, Mr Jamote said Manzoor Ali Panhwar had ruined the society that was on a sound financial position under the supervision of Commodore (retd) Tayyab Naqvi.
He said that the FCS, which was a welfare organization, was on the verge of collapse due to the ill-advised policies of the present chairman. The financial position could be gauged from the fact that it could not pay the salaries to its employees, he added.
Keamari Town Nazim Zulfikar Yunis assured participants of the assembly that being a representative of fishermen community, he would raise their grievances at the higher forum.
