According to a Recorder Report from Islamabad (November 26), the Fishing Policy 2001 is being revised to safeguard the prospects of foreign direct investment in the fish industry, and to improve economic conditions of small-scale fishermen.
The revision envisages creation of a 'buffer zone' of 8 nautical miles, between 12 and 20 nautical miles from the coastline, with a view to providing exclusive fishing rights to small-scale fishermen in the specified area. As such, no medium and large vessel or trawlers would be allowed to fish between the coastline and the 20 nautical miles sea limit.
The new approach is stated to be primarily based on the recommendation of the Senate subcommittee on Balochistan, stipulating permission of deep-sea fishing trawlers' operations only beyond 35 nautical miles, and measuring fishing zones from an established base line rather than the coastline.
The move follows a meeting convened by the Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister on August 24, which advised the Food Ministry to incorporate changes in the Fishing Policy 2001 in the light of recommendations made by the Balochistan committee.
The Defence Ministry, which is among the major stakeholders in fishing, while supporting the contemplated changes, is believed to have proposed extension of the limit of Zone-1 to 20 nautical miles, instead of creating a 'buffer zone', and measuring it from a base line rather than the coastline.
It may be recalled that the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock had amended the deep-sea fishing policy of 1995, in 2001, on the directive of General Pervez Musharraf. Under the amended policy, the territorial waters of 12 nautical miles constitute Zone-I, which is exclusively reserved for the traditional small-scale fishermen of Sindh and Balochistan.
In a 12-35 nautical miles area forming Zone-II, fishing was allowed to 100-250 Gross Registered Tonnage (GRT) medium size vessels. Zone-III, covering 35-200 nautical miles was opened for fishing by 300-500 GRT stern trawlers/300-l000 GRT long liners.
Accordingly, small-scale fishing vessels, though limited by their capability and capacity, were free to fish beyond Zone-I limits too.
It will also be noted that the rationale of revising the deep-sea fishing policy in 2001, has been described as enabling improved fish resources exploitation in Zone-II (12-35 nautical miles), which is stated to have remained under-exploited, as industrial fishing was allowed only beyond 35 nautical miles from the coast, and the small scale fishermen were unable to exploit this Zone.
Moreover, to ensure economic operation of the Korangi Fisheries Harbour with shallow draught of its approach channel, permission was given to medium size vessels to fish in Zone-II.
The proposed revised policy, envisaging creation of 'buffer zone' would now prohibit medium and large vessels/trawlers to fish between the coastline and 20 nautical miles. Needless to point out, it will brighten the prospects for the small-scale fishermen no doubt.
However, how far they would be able to benefit from it remains to be seen. A great deal remains to be done in so far as quality and performances of their boats and fishing implements are concerned.
As for the impact of the move on large-scale deep-sea fishing is concerned, it may appear to be somewhat negative. For, according to an earlier report, responding to Balochistan Fisheries Department's recommendations, the Deep-sea Trawler Owners Association had pointed out that it could lead to collapse of the national deep-sea fishing industry.
They had contended that the deep-sea trawlers were already facing many problems due to high prices of oil, and that with the stipulated change in the policy, the government would lose millions of dollars in foreign investment, while losing 30 percent of seafood export, along with loss of jobs to many.
They had also pointed out that while the government wanted to invite foreign investors to Pakistan, foreign investors were being discouraged by uncertainty in policies. The trawler owners demanded that there should be no change in the existing policy.
They had also said that there were 10-deep-sea fishing trawlers fishing in the country, of which eight were Chinese and two Korean, all of them fishing under joint ventures with Pakistan, mostly engaged in catching tuna fish and exporting it to China, Korea and other countries. Their fears will call for allaying too.
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