KFHA evolves strategy for mangroves conservation

Karachi Fish Harbour Authority (KFHA) had evolved a mangroves conservation strategy to protect the breeding place of marine creatures and the natural forest shield from sea erosion, officials said on Saturday. Talking to Business Recorder, the key officials said the KFHA was holding a meeting with Karachi Port Trust (KPT), Environment Protection Agency (EPA) and the civic administration shortly to implement the important strategy.
They said KFHA Managing Director Abdul Ghani Jokhio had held a meeting with a group of fishermen who had invited his attention towards the fast-logging of mangroves around the tiny islands of Keamari, fearing the natural forests shield would lose its roots if their cutting did not stop. At the meeting, fishermen pointed out that increase in the mangroves logging had disturbed the local seafarers community of Keamari, as the concerned authorities failed to protect the marine forest near close to the tiny islands - Baba and Bhit.
Abdul Ghani Jokhio also told Business Recorder that the authority had made a plan to conserve the mangroves with a view to protect the breeding grounds of shrimp, crabs and other key marine species from vanishing. He said the authority was also working to chalk out a plan to scale down the rising level of marine pollution at the fish harbour, adding the KFHA had also approved a reverse osmosis plant at the fisheries to treat the dirty water.
He blamed the untreated industrial waste and toxins responsible for the seawater pollution, saying the contamination had continued to cause problems for marine life. "The KFHA would now soon hold a meeting with the concerned authorities to finalise the plan's enforcement," he added.
"We have requested the KFHA to protect the mangrove forest near our islands from illegal cutting," President Bona Fide Fishermen and Boat Owners Welfare Association, Asif Bhatti told Business Recorder. He said the fast logging of mangroves had created marine environment problems as the forest was a natural hatchery for shrimps breeding where mud crabs also inhabited. He said the fishermen would face a big setback if their livelihood disturbed only because of the migration or killings of marine creatures.
He said the forest was also a natural shield against the strong sea waves and cyclones for the Baba and Bhit islet and expressed apprehensions over the government's continuous indifference toward the key issue. "Loggers on boats come from nearby localities and chop mangroves without any fears of law and concerns of the ecological danger," said Asif.