The second spell of gusty winds has pulled nearly 3,000 fishing boats to moorages across the Sindh coasts, bringing winter fishing to a halt, fishermen told Business Recorder on Thursday. Around 2,500 fishing boats have suspended their activities at sea since official warning of the weather turbulence around Ibrahim Haideri shores. Over 450 boats were moored at Keamari coast to avoid deep-sea troubles, they said.
"Some 2,500 boats coasted during the last two-three days at Ibrahim Haideri coast in the wake of gusty winds," Media Co-ordinator, Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum (PFF), Kamal Shah, said.
"The second spell of winter winds, which goes on, is likely to help change the ocean ecology for the rest of the season and pull species like cuttlefish, chind, etc," President, Native Islanders Fishermen Association (Nifa), Asif Bhatti, said.
Over 450 boats were at moorages, as winter weather unpredictably continued to vary from warm to mild cold and gusty, leaving fishermen undecided over their fishing schedules, he said, adding that "the fishermen are not making it well for ever changing weather pattern in winter".
He termed the oceanic fog of winter a 'stumbling block', hindering catch growth and making the species hide deep-sea. "If rain begins this month, it will altogether change the sea atmosphere and hopefully bring the absent species up to surface," he said.
Pakistan exports cuttlefish mainly to China and Far Eastern countries, where it has a greater demand. Chind is also believed to be one of the export quality fish species.
"Fishermen are likely to resume activities from next Friday if weather smoothens," Bhatti said.
According to officials of Maritime Security Agency, the warning was for 24 hours when it was issued on Tuesday evening, as weather at sea had improved to let the fishermen resume their fishing.
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