KARACHI, July 13: Representatives of fishermen community and organisations have urged the Sindh government to relax the ban on catch of shrimps.

They said the fishermen had been hit financially by the two-month ban which had been imposed since June 30, adding there was no justification of continuing the ban as the deep-sea fishing trawlers had been allowed to operate.

Last year, owing to the mounting pressure of small fishermen, the ban was lifted much earlier and the new fishing season began on July 10.

A delegation of fishermen from Shamspir and Baba Island, including representatives of Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum and Nazims of Union Councils, called on Chairman of Fishermen Cooperative Society Syed Tayyab and sought his assistance to relax the ban on catch of shrimps.

The chairman told the delegation that the matter had already been raised with the Sindh government, keeping in view the hardships being faced by the fishermen.

The mole-holders association has also urged the provincial government to relax the customary ban on fishing to save the fishermen from starvation.

The association said if deep-sea trawlers could operate during the breeding season, there was no justification of stopping the small boats.

June-July has been declared breeding season for fish and shrimps in Sindh and it is mandatory for fishermen to stop hunting during this period.

The ban was imposed from June 1 under the section 25 of the Sindh Fisheries Ordinance, 1980, to ensure the conservation of juvenile species.