CSF carried out task on Sindh Govt request

ISLAMABAD: The Competitiveness Support Fund (CSF) has completed a fisheries infrastructure survey of the Indus Delta in Badin and Thatta Districts of Sindh. At the request of the Sindh Government, CSF assigned one of its fisheries experts, Robert Lindley to carry out a survey of coastal fisheries in Badin and Thatta.

Lindley spent three weeks in the province and made extensive visits to sites in the two districts. He was accompanied by staff from the Sindh Fisheries Department.

However, following the survey it is advised specifically against any large scale developments in the area.

"Due to the high geophysical risk, unprecedented siltation problems requiring expensive dredging, declining fish catch volumes and continuing serious environmental degradation throughout coastal Badin and Thatta, the prospects for building and successfully operating any fish harbours large or small, anywhere in the delta, are very poor," says the survey.

The survey recommends that investments in smaller scale infrastructure, such as fully equipped small fish landing sheds and floating pontoons are far less risky in the delta environment and are beneficial to a large number of fishermen spread out over the whole delta area. -PR