KARACHI, Nov 8: Chairman Fisheries Committee and Member Karachi City Council, Abdur Razzaq Siddique, has attributed the declining export revenues in the fisheries sector to lack of modern processing systems and insufficient payment of the catch to fishermen.

In the quarterly report prepared by the Fisheries Committees, Razaq Siddique has also deplored the return of deep-sea trawlers, saying that every person associated with the fisheries is suffering because of the techniques used by these trawlers.

These trawler are still using illegal catching nets such as “Bholo Gajjo” in which every fish, big and small, gets entangled. Dead and unwanted fish and other marine animals are thrown back into the sea, distracting other fish which then move hundreds of miles away. The operations of these trawler was halted for a few months after the local fisheries organizations strongly protested to the situation, but now they have resumed their operations.

According to the figures, there is a big demand for fish and other seafood around the world. Japan alone imports about US$17 billion of fish, while the USA, European countries and others too import billions of dollars worth of seafood.

Amongst the fish exporting countries, Norway exports fish worth US$ 4 billion, while the exports of Thailand go up to US$ 4.1 billion annually. On the other hand Pakistan fisheries exports amount to a meager US$ 1.6 billion.

Razzaq has highlighted that Pakistani marine products are priced at mere six dollars per kg, while the products of other countries are rated at a much higher price of twenty dollars in the international market. Pakistani fishermen catch about 0.6 million tons of fish annually out of which only 50,000 tons are sold at six dollars per kg, and the rest is exported to some countries including Sri Lanka at only 50 cents per kg.

Razzaq blames lack of modern plants for fish processing and limited incentive for fishermen in the market as the main reasons for Pakistani industry to be lagging behind in this regard. He highlights that the conditions of fishermen have not changed much over the years, while wholesalers and middlemen have been extracting maximum profits out of # this business. As a result fishermen still use age-old techniques and equipment that not only damage the catch but also make the fishing operation cumbersome .

The prices in the international market are fixed for at least six months, but prices in Pakistan change everyday. A comprehensive plan needs to be chalked out in order to save the fish industry form further downfall,

The Fisheries Committee has also presented proposals to the city government for bringing betterment in the field.. The city government should impose an annual tax on all fish-hunting launches operating off the coast of Karachi, including passenger launches. The creation of a fishermen village has become indispensable.

Since the fishing season is off during the months of June and July, poor fishermen face difficulties in fulfilling food wants. Therefore emergency arrangements need to be made to provide them food ration during this period.

All the basic facilities such as water, power, roads, education, telephones, health, sanitation and transport should be provided to fishermen, and a policy of group insurance for fishermen should be introduced so that compensation may be paid to them in case of accidents . The committee’s report has also highlighted the problems and difficulties faced by boat-builders and called for abolishment of the harbour tax imposed on this industry, as it is causing severe financial constraints to those attached with the industry.—PPI