New fishing season-2013-14 on Wednesday began in the province prematurely, amid fears over the unabated hunting hits the marine life. The Fishermen Co-operative Society (FCS) organised a fishermen gathering at Karachi Fish Harbour to celebrate the opening of fishing season after offering fateha, collectively. The FCS directors along with fishermen and boat owners participated at the ceremony.
Officials of Karachi Fish Harbour Authority (KFHA) told Business Recorder that "The KFHA has started issuance of crew cards to deep-sea voyaging fishermen". They said the fishermen also now likely to turn up to the KFHA for receiving their crew cards from Thursday (today).
Normally, the annual ban on fishing stays for two months including June and July, the FCS said, adding that the Chief Minister Sindh ended the restriction on the request of society chairman Abdul Saeed Khan Baloch and its directors keeping in view the fishermen's financial problems. However, there are fears of rough sea in July may scale back the fishermen's deep-sea hunting, besides the over-fishing poses a serious threats to marine life within the country's seawaters.
The government through a notification on Tuesday announced to end annual fishing ban to let the fishermen resume their hunting in the country's maritime limits and beyond. The fishing season now began in July for the first time in history, according to fishermen, instead of August. The fisheries sources said the ban lift is largely politically motivated.
"It is actually a ban season hunting which the government has allowed but is illegal as per the ordinance," sources said, adding the sea needs at least two months fishing halt every year. The hostile sea condition with huge waves and gusty winds will be a test for the fishermen wanting to sail off the coast to hunt, sources said, adding there area fears the rough sea may hit fishing vessels as such incidents had happened in the past.
"Sindh Fisheries Dept vide Notification No 5(4) DS (Fish)/L&F/2012 dated 2 July 2013 withdrawn ban imposed on shrimps with effect from 1 to 31 July 2013," officials cited the government's notification. According to Marine Fisheries Department, the ban is aimed to ensure smooth breeding of shrimp and fresh water fish species, which is believed to take place during June and July every year, in seawaters and rivers. The ban started to restrict all voyagers from June 1 as Karachi Fish Harbour Authority (KFHA) to ensure the ban to remain till July 31. However, officials now said the fishing vessels will be allowed to go deep sea.
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