The WWF-Pakistan has sought the Marine Stewardship Council Certification (MSC) for key commercial fisheries especially yellow fin tuna for their high-priced export to the global markets. Fisheries that meet the MSC certification criterion include yellow fin tuna, swimming crabs and razor clams. The methods fishermen apply while hunting these fisheries are safe, manageable and eco-friendly ensuring sustainability of marine species, the WWF-Pakistan said on Wednesday.
Marine experts, while discussing an action plan for fisheries improvement project (FIP) for troll fishing in Sur Bunder, Gwadar during a two-day consultative workshop, said yellow fin tuna should be certified because of its safe and sustainable hunting. The MSC certification will help these fisheries scale up their commercial value up to 15 percent on the world markets. Insofar, none of the Pakistan's fisheries has attained the MSC certification. Swimming crabs and razor clams also have a potential to fetch higher commercial value through exports to the global markets especially the EU and the US.
Fish stocks have slumped nosedived in the wake of decades of unsustainable fishing practices and increasing pollution, Dr Babar Khan, Regional Head Sindh & Balochistan, WWF-Pakistan told the workshop. He believed that an alternative livelihood arrangement for the poor fishermen can also help improve their living and protect species to grow. "The Arabian Sea can support rich biodiversity, sustainable livelihoods and a thriving economy of the country, hence, there is a need to conserve its precious resources," he said.
There are only two species in Indian Ocean that are MSC certified include: Pole and line tuna of the Maldives and Ashtamudi short neck clams of India, Muhammad Moazzam Khan, Technical Adviser on Marine Fisheries at WWF-Pakistan, pointed out during the consultations. "Yellow fin tuna is the next potential candidate for this certification from Pakistan," he said, adding that the MSC fisheries standards requirements include fish stocks sustainability with no harmful impact on the ecosystem and an effective management system should be in place.
In this regard, he said, the troll fisheries are safe with no negative impacts to cause a decline to their stocks and carried out on a small scale. He said views of Pakistan Seafood Exporters Associations and other stakeholders who support this initiative will be taken into consideration before evolving a plan. Jo Gascoigne, Consultant, ME Certification (MEC) said the certification program is a leading eco-label with a global recognition. The MSC certification connects markets around the world and transforms seafood by incorporating quality and sustainability of certified fisheries, she added.
"Traceability is the hallmark of this certification and will aim to improve yellow fin tuna fish stocks in Pakistan," she said, adding that "A co-management plan for troll fisheries will be developed in which fishermen will also be a part of the consultation process."
Faisal Iftikhar, CEO Fisheries Development Board, showed confidence on the fishermen of Balochistan for their safe hunting to help protect the stocks of marine species from a fall. He believed the selection of Sur Bunder for troll fisheries will have a bigger impact on the country's commercial fishing and global trade. Dr Muhammad Shoaib Kiani, Assistant Professor, Institute of Marine Sciences, University of Karachi asked the stakeholders to evolve a clear strategy specifically keeping in view the weaker aspects of the fisheries which the MSC has identified in pre-assessment and scoping study.
"Promoting an active research to fill the gaps, improving data quality and clarity, capacity building of enumerators of Balochistan Fisheries Department (BFD) and active promotion of trolling fishing method instead of gillnetting needed," he said.
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