Daily Times

KARACHI: Hundreds of fishermen on Tuesday demanded authorities concerned to end illegal occupation of water bodies, overfishing, sea pollution and most importantly blue economy which is having far-reaching implications on the marine life, small scale fisheries and indigenous fishermen.

They took part in the procession that marched from Regal Chowk and culminated at Karachi Press Club to mark the World Fisheries Day.

The rally was organised by the Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum (PFF) which attracted a large number of fisher communities hailing from different parts of Sindh and representatives of civil society, where fishermen exhibited fishing tools, small boats and nets, wearing traditional costumes and danced to the tune of inspirational songs.

Speaking on the occasion, PFF Chairman Muhammad Ali Shah said that overfishing, environmental pollution, increasing urbanisation and industrial activities had destroyed the natural source of income of the fishing communities living close to the waters. “This has also led to depletion of fish stocks and has compelled the fishermen to leave their traditional means of livelihood,” he said.

He said that blue growth initiatives were getting its roots in Pakistan and it would also restructure control of resources snatching it away from hands of indigenous fishermen to industrial fishing actors. He further added that corporate actors had begun to generate discourse around it, and were trying to get people, communities and institutions, including government departments on their side.

Shah expressed concern about this development and feared that it would be a setback to the small scale fisheries that was already under crisis in Pakistan. He noted that hundreds of inland water bodies were in the illegal occupation of local landlords and other influential people that cast an adverse impact on poor fishing communities, their lifestyles, cultural identity and livelihoods. He illustrated that there is no justification for taking control of the water since fishermen possess licences and the superior courts had also ordered that only fishermen have had the right to catch the fish.

He expressed deep concern over frequent detentions of fishermen by Indian authorities. He said that more than 150 Pakistani fishermen were languishing in the Indian Jails since many years and lamented that such inhumane acts of the Indian government have had the families of the incarcerated Pakistani fishermen towards starvation.

He urged the Sindh government to define the Fisheries Policy and called for adopting resolutions in the Sindh Assembly against overfishing, habitat destruction and other issues posing a serious threat to the sustainability of marine and freshwater resources.

PFF Vice Chairman Mustafa Mirani, Gulab Shah, Noor Muhammad Tahmoor, Muhammad Mallah, Umer Mallah, Ramzan Mallah and others also spoke on the occasion.

Published in Daily Times, November 22^nd 2017.