As the new fishing season has begun with traditional rituals at the country's largest fisheries, the fishermen are eager to know whether it was the changing climate or dwindling fish and shrimp species that was responsible for the fall in seafood catch last year. Hundreds of boats are at the harbour's channel to find passage out of the congestion to sail off the coast.
The country suffered about $20 million loss during the last fiscal year because of the low catch landing at the harbour. The fishermen and boat owners estimate that the low seafood landing inflicted big financial losses on them and exporters as well. However, they are still worried to know the causes behind the "worst" fall. "We need to wait at least for one month to know the catch landing whether it will keep up with the last months' landing or not. It happens every seven to eight years when catch reduces drastically and may be this time it has happened too," Chairman, Sindh Trawlers Owners and Fishermen Association, Habibullah Khan Niazi, said.
He also took into consideration the changing climate trend as a key factor behind the catch fall. "The daily shrimp catch is however good so far," he added. The bulk shrimp catch landing would start by the end of August and would determine the future of seafood arrival for the rest of the year, he said, adding that "the fishermen have now focused on the deep sea haul expected in the next 25 days or so". He however said that the generally available fish species had been short during the last season for unknown reasons.
He feared that if the climate change was not the factor behind the scaling down of fish catch, then the survival of fishermen would be at risk. "Survival of thousands of fishermen and fisheries workers will be in danger if the fish and shrimp species continue to reduce due to excessive hunting," he added. "Big factories pay at least Rs 20 million in electricity bills, Rs 40 million in potable water acquisition and millions other in labourers' wages. Similarly, boats pay for diesel, ice, and ration purchase and pay to crew that sums also in millions. Boat and factory owners then struggle to have a big amount in return with a sizeable catch landing," Niazi said.
The country faced a $20 million seafood export decline last fiscal year to $349.557 million from $369.458 in the corresponding fiscal year. In terms of volume, the country's seafood export scaled down by 7 percent or 9,859 metric tons last fiscal year to 140,639 metric tons comparing to 150,498 metric tons in 2013-14.