The morning drizzle added to the joys of fishermen celebrating the start of new fishing season at the fish harbour on Tuesday, as hundreds of boats sailed into the sea for a hunt. Like every year, the overcast horizons welcomed the fishing season to begin, as the seafarers held prayers before unmooring their vessels after a 2-month ban started on June 1 through July 31. The fishermen sought God's help for a boost-up seafood catch around the year.
"Around 90 percent boats have become functional with the season starting from today as over 650 vessels landed a bumper crop to harbour," President, Native Islanders Fishermen Association, Asif Bhatti told Business Recorder, hoping for a huge catch this season. For the first time, the country succeeded to export around $394.217 million of seafood to different world markets with an increase of 21 percent or $69.348 million during the fiscal year 2017 from $324.869 million during fiscal year 2016.
Officials of Karachi Fish Harbour Authority confirmed that issuance of port clearance certificates for boats, which are set to sail off to deep sea, has been started. Hundreds of big fishing are expected to voyage towards deep sea hunt until Aug 20. "The central fish market is likely to take time to normalize," they said.
However, Asif Bhatti regretted the price, which the market players are offering to the fishermen, is too low despite a huge catch landing on the first season day. He blamed the KFHA for allowing the market players to monopolize the price, fish and shrimp trade.
Despite a huge hunt, fishermen failed to receive good prices for their catch on the market, he said, adding that "shrimp prices are below expectations. Jaira is purchased for Rs 450 per kg, Kalri for 180 and Kiddi for Rs 100". He said that the poor fishermen after a 2-month of 'starvation' have been denied a reasonable return on their catch.
"It is a bigger catch this fiscal year comparing to the last year's crop," he said, adding that no matter what price the fishermen receive at the end, their hunt will continue across the season to reap a better yield for a living.
However, he blamed the market players for 'exploiting' miserable fishermen. In term of quantity, Pakistan exported 20 percent or 30,948 metric tons higher of seafood to 158,858 metric tons last fiscal year from 127,910 metric tons in fiscal year 2016.
In June 2017, seafood export shot up by 51.23 percent or $9.9282 million to $29.312 million from $19.3838 million in June 2016. Fisheries export quantity grew to 11,812 metric tons in June 2017 from 8,222 metric tons in June 2016, up by 44 percent or 3590 metric tons.
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