Karachi

The lifting of a ban on seafood exports and the development of the fishermen community are a top priority.

This was stated by the newly-appointed administrator of the Fishermen Cooperative Society (FCS), Abdul Saeed Khan.

Talking to The News, he said: “I have taken the issue of the European Union (EU) to higher authorities on a priority basis, and with the backing of the government, the seafood exports will hopefully be started in the current year,” he said while responding to a query.

“It will be too early to say that the issue will be resolved soon after the new fishing season starts in August-September 2011. But I am making efforts, approaching the government to ensure a visit by an EU inspection team, because everything is ready at the harbour,” he said.

“I belong to the fisheries sector and know the issues the fishermen communities are facing. I am trying to improve the community welfare system and planning to initiate development schemes to benefit the people living in far flung villages along the Karachi coast,” he said. “Immediately after taking charge, I issued directives strictly to keep the area clean to attract traders and foreign visitors. The harbour is being cleaned now and we are planning to improve the jetty so we may facilitate the boat owners and crew and attract traders,” Khan added.

He said that there were several issues related to the community which needed time to be resolved. About the long-awaited issue of implementing a ban on the use of harmful nets at creeks and avoid destruction of juvenile fish resources, he said that he had already warned boat owners and fishermen to avoid use of destructive nets in the creeks to save fish.

“We have to save these resources for our future generations. But we cannot take strict action against the fishermen rather I prefer to raise awareness to avoid the use of such destructive nets. He realised that through use of harmful nets fishermen catch

juvenile fish, selling it as a trash fish, which is used for poultry feed. Initially, we are launching an awareness campaign, checking boats operating from the Karachi Fish Harbour and asking boat owners not to use such harmful nets. It could be an effective way to impose ban on its use”.

He said that after consultation with the community leaders and officials concerned they would constitute a scrutiny committee to confirm the exact number of fishing boats registered 60 years back. The FCS, a welfare body for the fishermen set up 65 years back, had allotted numbers and names to boats, many of them either have been destroyed after years in use. There was no exact data of existing boats. Similarly, there was no exact number of active FCS members, because several bona fide members were no more with us. There is need to have an exact data before conducting FCS elections, which are due since 2007.

The FCS administrator said he had assured the community people that their issues would be addressed and the targets achieved. He said “Despite being associated with the fishermen community, I cannot come up to their expectations alone. I need cooperation from all sides and with their help may achieve a goal sooner or later.”

He said all the bodies (departments) working at the premises of the Karachi Fish Harbour had their roles to play. “I have asked the community people to come to me directly and register complains if they have any regarding boat modification process, jetties uplift and civic issues. I will try to remove the same. I cannot do more than that,” he said.

