Protection of marine resources: PAC opposes issuance of fishing licences on commercial basis

A parliamentary panel Wednesday expressed grave concern over increase in pollution in the country's sea limits and has directed authorities concerned to take appropriate measures and put emphasis on industrial units in Karachi to install treatment plants in their units.
Public Accounts Committee(PAC) which met here with Syed Khursheed Ahmed Shah in the chair directed the relevant quarters of the federal government and provincial departments of Sindh and Balochistan not to issue fishing licences on the commercial basis.
The committee was informed that fish stocks in Pakistani maritime limits have witnessed a decline of 70 per cent over the past few years due to pollution and if the trend continues, there will be no fish in Pakistani waters.
Giving briefing to the panel, Director General Sindh Fisheries Department, Ghulam Mohammad cited a recent report of the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) that marine fisheries resources in Pakistan have depleted up to 70 per cent. He said that marine waters of Pakistan would not be suitable for fishing in coming few years and as a result hundreds of thousands of people will loose the mean of their livelihood, besides there would be other serious implications on local communities residing in the costal areas.
"The FAO study on stock assessment revealed that all of Pakistan's currently exploited resources are significantly-to-severely over fished. Stocks are all below economically optimal levels and many are depleted to a dangerous extent up to 50 to 70 per cent. The stock assessment indicated a need to reduce fishing effort by 50 per cent to rebuild most stocks," the director general added.
Stating the reasons for worsening situation, the secretary ports and shipping told the committee that untreated industrial water falling directly in the sea and sewage of the city are main reasons behind pollution of the seawater. Moreover, it is posing serious dangers to the ecosystem, he added.
Rasheed Godial of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) said that various fish species have either shrunk or are no more available in Pakistani waters, adding that the departments concerned instead of fulfilling their responsibilities are blaming one another. He said this is happening because the country has no viable fishery policy.
The committee while constituting a three-member subcommittee to look into the challenges and give way forward to authorities concerned at federal and provincial levels, has directed the Sindh government and the federal government to immediately put a ban on issuance of fresh licences for commercial fishing.
In his briefing, the DG Sindh Fisheries further said that as per Deep Sea Fishing Policy of 1995, amended in 2001 and 2009, the marine area from the coast line has been divided into three zones; Zone-I from coastline up to 12 nautical miles is a provincial jurisdiction, Zone-II between 12 to 20 nautical miles (Buffer Zone), and Zone-III also known as Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) between 20 to 200 nautical miles under federal jurisdiction. The United Nations has extended right of Pakistan in EEZ from 200 NM to 350 NM to exploit bottom resources.
As per policy, the federal government is required to take various measures for promotion of small scale fishing in Zone-I, like establishment of revolving fund, development of coastal aquaculture, training, and improvement in market system, etc, but so far nothing has been initiated.
The Federal Ministry of Ports & Shipping had promised to take measures for dredging of channel at Karachi Fish Harbour in 2011, but so far nothing has been done in this regard. The federal government is collecting 0.25 per cent as Export Development Fund (EDF) but nothing has been invested substantially in fisheries in Sindh so far.
In order to avoid over fishing and ensure long-term sustainable use of resources, the federal government should incorporate the principles and goals of the FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries into deep sea fishing policy, in addition to above promised initiatives.
The committee was informed that the government collected Rs 90 million last year on account of Export Development Fund (EDF) at the rate of 0.25 per cent, but this amount was not used for welfare and development of fishing community. The committee directed relevant quarters to ensure spending of EFD on the betterment and uplift of fisheries sector of the country.
Dr Arif Alvi of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf said that mega housing schemes like Defence Housing Authority (DHA), Bahria Town and others are under way in Karachi and other costal areas of the country which have created serious threat to mangroves woods.
The panel was requested to direct the relevant quarters to stop uninterrupted fishing activities during breeding season and a ban should also be placed on the import of fish meat.
Rana Afzal of ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) said the government should ban issuance of commercial licences to international as well as local parties for protection of Pakistan's marine resources, adding all the commercial licences issued must also be cancelled.