June 1, 2005

Proposed EU ban on Pakistan seafood stirs protest

Fears that a temporary European Union ban on Pakistani seafood may turn indefinite have led to an uproar among fishermen in Pakistan's Sindh province.

The ban, imposed in February this year, restricts imports of all types of seafood from Pakistan into the EU. Fishermen in the country's Sindh province are protesting against the current contract system that restricts their normal fishing rights under a previous license system.

The Sindh government has been accused of implementing unfavourable policies such as the contract system, which farmers say robs them of their right to fish.

In that system, contractors purportedly claim a disproportionate share of the fish catch, depriving fishermen of their fair share. Fishermen are then bound to sell their meagre share back to contractors at very low prices in order to survive.

The opposition Pakistan People's Party (PPP) has lashed out at the government, with a PPP leader accusing the Sindh administration of using tyrannical means to silence the protesting fishing community.

Protestors were allegedly dragged out onto the streets and subjected to human torture, noted a statement issued by the leader. The EU has reacted to this news by threatening to drag the timeline for the ban indefinitely.

Revenue from seafood exports is the second largest contributor to Pakistan's foreign exchange reserves.