Pakistan is starting its new fishing season from Aug 1, as fishermen hope for a 'bumper crop' to haul all shrimp species with the high-priced export quality fish in the wake of heavy monsoon downpour.
Authorities have also started issuing credentials to fishermen for hunt in the new fishing season, which is kick-starting from Thursday, Aug 1, 2019 after a two-month fishing ban at a ceremony at the Karachi Fish Harbor. Sailing of boats will begin following prayer sessions at different fishing communities across the coastal belt of Sindh from Karachi to Korangi and Sir Creek.
"Nearly 800 small boats are expected to voyage to the seas with a hope to haul bumper crop of shrimps," President Native Islanders Fishermen Association, Asif Bhatti told Business Recorder on Wednesday, saying that the two-month ban on fishing is widely appreciated since it will help fishermen earn more catch than normal. Fishermen are 'jubilant' to voyage, he said, however, feared the fisheries market may manipulate the shrimp prices and maintain at the last year's valuation between Rs600 per kg to Rs 1200 kg.
The pre-fishing season monsoon rains will greatly help the crops flourish entire year, he said, hoping another spell until Aug 15 may add to the seas fertility to make the catch more valuable for the fishermen on the local market. "We still hope the another rainy spell will prolong the season with better catch this year," he said, adding that shrimp species like Kiddi, Jeyra and Tiger with fish species like Maya, Chind, Dother, etc, are the expensive products which catch will financially foster the fishermen at the end of the season".
The main areas wherefrom fishermen will sail for hunt are Karachi Fish Harbor, Baba and Bhit islands, besides Korangi - Ibrahim Haideri and localities around Sir Creeks, he said adding that the fishing may be unfeasible within the 12 nautical miles of the country's maritime belt because of the polluted water. "Fishermen will have to sail deep beyond 12 nautical miles as seas inside is polluted," Asif said, adding that the illegal netting in creeks for hunt of shrimps has also endangered many vertebrates and invertebrates across the coastal areas.
An official of Karachi Fish Harbor Authority told Business Recorder that the authority has started issuing documents to the fishermen a week earlier from the start of fishing season to help them avoid hustle. He confirmed the fishing season is starting today (Thursday) Aug 1 and boat may start their trips to the season. "Main operation of fishing hunt will start after Eid-ul-Azha," he said.
The country's seafood export reduced to $438.021 million in fiscal year 2018-19, falling short by $12.286 million or 3 percent to keep up with the seafood export of $451.021 million fiscal year 2017-18. In term of volume, Pakistan's seafood export declined to 195,523 metric tons in July-June 2018-19 from 196,927 metric tons in July-June 2017-18, showing a fall of one percent or 1404 metric tons. In June 2019, Pakistan exported $32.168 million of seafood, which is higher by 19 percent or $5.125 million from $27.043 million in June 2018. Seafood export quantity also grew by 19 percent or 2392 metric tons to 15,213 metric tons in June 2019 from 12,821 metric tons in June 2018, Pakistan Bureau of Statistics say.
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