Deep under water

The resumption of fish and seafood exports to the European Union is being hailed as a welcome development in the sorry tale of the countrys fishing sector that had been reeling from the loss of a major market for the past half a dozen years.
A close look at the sectors exports during these years shows that the extent of business loss suffered by Pakistani fisheries and thousands of people whose livelihoods are intertwined with them, may have been severely understated.
It is worth noting that the EU ban coincided with spiralling international prices of fish and other seafood. This sharp rise in prices masked the real impact of the ban, because the fall in dollar terms was relatively muted, compared to the fall in amount of exports.
Amount exported in FY07 stunted to 105,000 tons compared to 124,000 tons in FY07. That represents a drop of 15 percent, which is much more alarming than suggested by the nominal fall of three percent in the value of exports over the same period.
An official release attributed to the current EU Ambassador to Pakistan, Lars-Gunnar Wigemark also alluded to the same business loss as it stated that prior to the ban, Pakistans fish and seafood exports to the EU had valued over $66 million, each year.
A similar trend of rising prices has been masking the stagnating international sales of the countrys fisheries over the past many years. While the value of exports has increased nearly 64 percent from $194.2 million in FY06 to $317.6 million to FY13; actual tonnage shipped over the same period has only improved 16 percent from 124,000 tons to 144,100 tons.
It is also worth noting that so far only two of the 11 Pakistani companies that were de-listed by the EU have been re-instated as permissible exporters to the region. Of these, only Akhlaq Enterprises has shipped three containers to EU buyers, while A G Fisheries is yet to resume supplies to its clients in that region.
Talking to BR Research, an industry insider narrated that stagnant volumes amid rising international prices benefit only large, recognised exporters while the majority of small-scale fisher folk are unable to enjoy the price bonanza.
Though the resumption of fish and seafood exports to the EU is a good development, both the countrys fishing sector and government need to work collectively to improve conditions here, not least for ensuring access to international markets.