The Fishermen Cooperative Society (FCS) on Tuesday announced the formal opening of the new fishing season starting on August 1, 2012, amidst fishermen’s concerns over the volatility of fish prices due to excessive catch by other stakeholders and delay in monsoon rains.
The announcement was made by FCS Administrator Abdul Saeed Khan Baloch at a ceremony held at the Karachi Fisheries Harbour (KFH) attended by Managing Director KFHA Abdul Ghani Jokhio, Manager FCS Rafiq Suleman, Secretary Board Mohammed Abid Arfeen, Manager Market Dil Murad Baloch and a large number of boat owners, community representatives, traders and officials of relevant departments.
Fishermen point out that during the first trip at least 100150 boats kick off from the harbour and traditional jetties and land tons of commercial fish, including shrimps, usually causing unexpected decline in the product rates. It will take at least one week to normalise the prices.
They were of the opinion that the government should take steps and strictly ask traders and factories to rationalise the prices to avoid uncertainty in the market. But the FCS officials are optimistic, saying everything is under control and there will be no problem for the community people in terms of prices of the products.
However, community people, sharing their indigenous knowledge, believe that delayed monsoon rains this year may affect the fish catch, especially the quality of shrimps, making fishermen vulnerable to unstable prices.
Like other species, shrimps too require freshwater for its natural growth in the season. This year, some boats operating in July, despite an official ban on catch, observed small-sized shrimps. This is because all fish species need freshwater in the monsoons, through rainy waterways, river, tributaries and drains, for growth, said Gulab Shah, a traditional fisherman from Keti Bunder.
Shah, who also leads Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum in the coastal areas of Thatta district, says In fact, fishermen and boat owners, as usual, are preparing to repair their nets and boats at their home jetties for the new season; however, they are not sure of a prosperous catch.
The News International