KARACHI, Nov 20: The Competitiveness Support Fund has called for giving more representation to fishermen on the board of directors of the Fishermen Cooperative Society to make it an effective body.

 

The CSF also recommended re-organisation of the management structure of the Karachi Fish Harbour to upgrade the overall working of the harbour and improve the quality and value of catch. 

 

Speaking to the media at the harbour on Friday where a large number of fishing boats were on display after having been upgraded to international standards with the collaboration of CSF and the Sindh government, CSF chief Arthur Bayhan said that the fisheries industry had a huge potential to grow. He said he was impressed with the progress so far made to improve the fisheries sector. 

 

The boats, which were on display, previously lacked necessary basic equipment like warning systems and alarms, chilling and storage units besides a string of other facilities that are mandatory for fishing boats under EU guidelines. 

 

Mr Bayhan was earlier informed that a total of 89 boats, including 71 large boats and 18 small ones, had been upgraded or repaired with the financial support of the Sindh government. Besides, 28 boats – 16 large and 12 small – had been upgraded through private financing. 

 

The fishermen present on the occasion expressed their appreciation over the changes made to the boats. They said it would help the quality and quantity of the overall catch besides providing them much-needed security. 

 

Speaking to journalists at the habour, Sindh Minister of Fisheries Zahid Ali Burghari said: “Pakistan has an enormous potential in the fisheries and seafood sector and this industry has tremendous scope if developed properly.” 

 

Pakistan has a fish and seafood industry that includes ancillary industries worth $1.2 billion. More than one million people rely directly or indirectly on this industry. Pakistanis eat less than 2.5kg of fish per year, one of the lowest per capita consumption in the world. The average consumption per year per capita is around 15kg. 

 

However, the fisheries sector is under threat from over-fishing and the poor quality control, according to the CSF which is a joint venture of the Ministry of Finance, Government of Pakistan, and the United States Agency for International Development. Over-fishing reduces the resource base and hence the yields, while the poor quality control means that the value of the catch is not being maximised and much is being wasted. 

 

To overcome these obstacles, the CSF has carried out an action plan for fish quality and value adding at the harbor comprising recommendations for the rehabilitation of the infrastructure, better water supply, more ice-making, rationalising the number of boats in the harbour, improving the sewage system, upgrading auction halls and a proposal to contract out the management via a company structure. 

 

It has been estimated that the annual value of the catch will increase by $35 million with the improved quality and better market prices if the action plan is properly implemented. It will also help reduce trash fish used for animal feed at loss-making prices. 

 

Under the plan, some 50 stainless steel hand pallet trucks have been introduced along with plastic pallets of fish and related products from the jetty to the auction hall. Plastic crates have been provided to handle fish and fish products at jetties and the auction hall. 

 

Provision of potable water has been ensured for the cleaning of jetties and auction halls. Fumigation has been carried out in the auction halls and the same is being done on the boats. 

 

Furthermore, a contract has been given to a private consultancy firm to develop a master plan for the harbour. 

 

The media briefing was also attended by the FCS administrator and KHA managing director.

 

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum on Friday held an impressive boat rally from the Karachi Fish Harbour to Baba Bhit to mark the World Fisheries Day. 

 

Fisheries policy rejected 

 

Separately, Shirkat Gah, an NGO working on environment issues and conservation of coastal natural resources in Pakistan, organised a dialogue on the national fisheries policy on Friday. 

 

Most speakers at the seminar rejected the government’s new fisheries policy, saying that it was framed without the consultation of the fishermen community. They said that the policy fully protected the interests of the investors rather than the community. 

 

The speakers also pointed out that the new fishing policy largely focused on aqua-culture, saying that the project would prove counter productive in Sindh because of inadequate availability of freshwater in some areas and decreasing groundwater levels which will make it difficult and expensive for fish farmers not fed by rivers and canals. 

 

They also criticised the deep-sea policy of the government, saying that it would destroy the coastal resources. 

 

They also expressed concern that in the name of development coastal villages were being ruined and fishermen were forced to shift to other places in search of livelihood. 

 

The seminar was addressed by Zubaida Birwani of the Pakistan Mahigir Tehrik, Naseer Memon, Nasir Mansur and Zulfikar Haliputo. PPP MPAs Humera Alwani and Dr Sikandar Mundera were also present.