Karachi: “Sometimes, my family suffers from starvation and hunger when I return empty-handed”, said Nazeer Ahmed, a fishermen while mending his fishing net at Korangi fish harbour.
Nazeer is not the only fisherman who suffers from the rising cost of fishing and limited income in the wake of depleting fishing resources. A single journey for fishing in the open sea costs Rs 40, 000 to Rs 50, 000, huge cost for the poor fishermen. “Government does not support us in any way, we do it all at our own” Nazeer regrets.
The job keeps his family anxious all the time. As they go into deep-sea for a better catch to support their families, they come across with unforgettable memories and experiences. Sometimes, they face instant death, when the sea goes rough. “Once our boat got stuck in the storm . It took us a whole night to come out of the situation and finally I saw death from very close. It was a horrible experience of my life”, Nazeer told Daily Times.
For people on shore fishing ; may seem excitement but like other professions it is also full of uncertainties. Many fishermen want to send their children to schools just to save them from the suffering in future which they are experiencing but meager income forces them to live from hand to mouth.
“We do not want our children to suffer as they do and dream for a better life for them”, Nazeer said. Traditionally fishermen catch verities of fishes besides mollusks, cephalopods, crustaceans, and echinoderms. Fishing is done by variety of ways including hand gathering, spearing, netting, and trapping. “Mostly we use bigger nets for fishing as we go into the deep sea”, said Ramzan Ali Mallah.
Fishing net is usually meshes formed by knotting a relatively thin thread which is bound with a string and pieces of foam, a Puch (a type of thin net),and a Seeho (an Ironic metal) is attached with it which is thrown in the sea for fishing.
Fishermen use large nets as long as 200 feet for catching big fishes and small as 100 feet for prawns and other small sea species, Juman Malah said while sharing details. “Sometimes we have to throw the net four times to achieve targets,” Malah added.
Pakistan’s waters are gifted by nature with various types of species like prawns, fishes and crabs of all colours, lobster etc. some are locally consumed while large quantity is export to get precious foreign exchange.
Sitting on the boat for hours waiting for the uncertain outcome seems exciting job for fishermen. “The moments seem like trial of our past experience, we may get a good catch or not”, said Noor Malah with an excitement.
The fishermen venture out in groups thus sharing burden and cost, profits and losses. For the search of livelihood they sometimes travel hundreds of kilometers away from their homes spending their days and nights in the journey. “We go to Khahi Creek, Khuddi Creek, Kharo Chhaan Creek, Hajamro Creek, Goro Creek, Sinhri ji Naar Creek, KainrJi Naar Creek, Turchan Creek and Kajar Creek near India”, Noor Malah informed.