High diesel cost, low payback ebb fishing activities

High financial risks, unfriendly winds and low returns have embroiled the financially weak fishermen who are sailing into the deep sea for fishing. The fishing activities haven't got a full momentum owing to high cost of diesel, low payback on catch and strong winds in the sea, fishermen said on Friday.
Hardly, 30 percent boats sail on an average basis for short trips while long trip fishing boats have been anchored at harbor due to strong winds in the sea. Fishermen said that the catch of lobster is higher in volume as compared to the last year's catch but its price is lower by 50 percent during this season.
So far, the season's average catch of lobster is between 25-30 pieces per boat, while its price is Rs 600 per piece, which was Rs 1200 per piece last year. Similarly, a single boat's per day catch of Jaira is 40-50 kg while it is being purchased from fishermen at Rs 300 per kg as compared to Rs 900 per kg last year.
Price of Kalri is however unchanged for the last 10 years at Rs 140 per kg, and its per boat catch is in the range of 150-180 kg, according to the fishermen. Talking to Business Recorder, President of Bona Fide Fishermen and Boat Owners Welfare Association, Asif Bhatti said that market players are exploiting fishermen by not buying the catch at a reasonable price.
He urged the government to play its role and fix the fish and shrimp's prices so that the fishermen could be protected from financial crunch and catch could further be increased. He said that increasing cost of fuel, low price of the catch and unfriendly weather conditions in the sea are the primary reasons behind the sail-paced fishing activities.
A short tripper boat's fuel expenses are 25,000 while the long tripper one iss Rs 0.9 million for 15 days. He said that the fishing ban should not be imposed during June and July as shrimp is found in bulk as compared to other months.
He held the changing global weather conditions responsible for shrimp's disappearance in the Arabian Sea during August. Asif accused the officials of Fishermen Cooperative Society (FCS) for not facilitating the fishermen, saying they are rather protecting the buyers' interest.