February 21, 2011

Pakistan's seafood exports double in three years

Pakistan's seafood exports have increased to 100% during the last three years.

The Pakistan's fish industry was not affected despite delisting it by the EU in 2007, said Sindh Fisheries Minister Zahid Ali Bhurgari.

Bhurgari said that the Pakistani fish companies, who turned toward Middle East and other international markets following de-listing of the country, have received positive response from there, and now the Pakistan's fish industry has growth. He added that due to better policy of the government, the ratio of seafood exports have been increased.

He said that the EU delegation wished to visit to Pakistan to review their decision regarding de-listed it but due to recent incidents of target killings, their visits' scheduled were cancelled. The EU officials had already expressed their satisfaction over fulfilling their requirements as the government had made all the required arrangements to resume Pakistan's previous status and trade with them.

It must be mentioned here that the EU had de-listed Pakistan in 2007 objecting over unhygienic storage of catch and poor condition of fishing boats. The EU objected for wooden fishing boats and asked to modify at least 200 fishing boats in to fiber to resume trade with it.

The minister said that the provincial government has modified 275 fiber boats installing ice plants and fiber crates to fishermen to keep their catch.

"Licensing system has been introduced in Sindh water while fulfilling the prolonged demands of fishers community, as the Sindh Assembly had unanimously passed the Sindh Fisheries Amended Bill 2011 replacing the contract/lease system" said Bhurguri, adding that the license system will help revive sustainable use of fisheries resources of the province's water bodies and improve their livelihood. He hoped that the licensing system would help restore the livelihood of fishermen and check unsustainable fishing practices in sweet water bodies.

He said that the provincial government has taken initiative to establish fish markets in Sukkur and Hyderabad districts to facilitate the inland local fishermen, he added that in this regard revenue department was asked to conduct survey and identify the land for these markets.

Commenting over using of banned-nets for fishing, he said that his department has launched crack down against using of such nets, while in this regard nearly 300 illegal nets were seized. However, he said, nearer 1,500 such nets were still being used for fishing.

He also said that during annual ban on fishing, the deep sea trawlers, those deprived small and traditional fishermen from their livelihood, were not issued any license.