KARACHI, May 27: The federally-constituted National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB) will meet here on June 3 in the backdrop of a controversy over the deep-sea fishing policy.

The meeting, to be held at the office of the Maritime Security Agency, will particularly take up matters relating to the deep-sea fishing sector, it is learnt here.

The federal government recently allowed the operation of deep-sea trawlers with harsh penalties in case of violation of fishing zones. However, Sindh and Balochistan have reservations over it.

Small fishermen of Balochistan and Sindh also oppose the deep-sea fishing policy, saying it is detrimental to the national interest.

The NFDB is expected to take up matters pertaining to the Korangi Fish Harbour and other contentious issues concerning the fisheries sector.

It will be the first meeting of the NFDB in Karachi since its setting up in Aug 2000.