'Ceasing' activities termed ban on seafood export

Seafood exporters on Tuesday termed the Sindh government's 'ceasing' of all fishing related activities at the fish harbour as 'ban' on fisheries export, fearing the move will yield financial losses to the processing units.

The Sindh government on April 12, 2020 through an order ceased all fishing related activities Karachi Fish Harbor after an increase in Covid-19 cases in the province. It cited The Sindh Epidemic Disease Act 2014 - Section 3 to shut the businesses of all kind at the harbour until next order.

However, the exporters feared that a closure of seafood processing units will virtually close the country's fisheries export to the world market due to the government's sudden move. "Fishing and market closures can be understood but stopping staff and owners from entering Karachi Fish Harbor Authority (KFHA) means on [seafood] export," former Chairman, Pakistan Seafood Exporters Association, Syed Akhlaq Hussain Abidi told Business Recorder.

He said that factories have ready stocks of seafood for export, which needs shipment to the world markets but cannot be possible under the new government's order. "Factories have many export orders and stock in hand," he added.

When contacted an official of Karachi Fish Harbour Authority, he confirmed the Sindh government's order, saying that there is no restriction on anyone entering the harbour. However, he said that there is no one permitted to carry out any activities at the harbor to help succeed the government's efforts to beat Covid-19 attack. "Owners of factories are allowed into harbor but should not resume activities," he added.

A similar sort of order the KFHA also issued to the stakeholders of fisheries sector, ceasing activities within its jurisdiction until further order. The KFHA official informed that the government's also looking into a request made by seafood exporters to permit them ship their ready export orders, which came to a halt with the restrictions at harbor. He said that the government is expected to provide them a relief within next three days.

Pakistan's export of seafood grew by 12.35 percent to $278.637 million in July-Feb 2019-20. Increase in seafood export now stands at $30.637 million in July-Feb 2019-20 from $248 million in July-Feb 2018-19, Pakistan Bureau of Statistics shows.

Export volume of seafood also went up by 5 percent or 6440 metric tons to 114,865 metric tons in July-Feb 2019-20 from 108,425 metric tons in July-Feb 2018-19. Down by 17.08 percent or $5.251 million, seafood export declined to $25.495 million in Feb 2020 from $30.746 million in Feb 2019. The country exported 11,504 metric tons of seafood in Feb 2020, which is low by 15 percent or 2002 metric tons, from 13,506 metric tons in Feb 2019.