Fishermen want the government to make legislation to abrogate the annual fishing ban of July on a permanent basis to protect their financial interest, which the ban damages every year. Talking to Business Recorder, President Bona Fide Fishermen and Boat Owners Welfare Association, Asif Bhatti, said the government should abolish the July fishing ban in coastal areas of the province.
He said after all the key stakeholders and government authorities confirmed the shrimp breeding during this month took place in creeks and not in open then the restriction in this particular month should now be abolished permanently through legislation. He said Sindh Fisheries Minister, Zahid Bhurgari had earlier abolished the contract system in inland waters of the province, therefore, the government should also end the ban of July in the coastal areas which was placed on hunting fish and shrimps.
Recalling the former premier late Benazir Bhutto's visit to the tiny island in 1993, he said, she had pledged to remove the ban and resolve the fishermen community's all problems but her government did not sustain long and their demands could not be met then. "But, now the PPP-government is not interested in development of the fishermen," he added. The ban should be removed as it was the late PPP chairperson's pledge to the community, Bhatti said, adding "The ban is unjust and altogether against the interests of poor fishermen which push them into financial crisis every year."
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