KARACHI, March 26: A sizable quantity of various fish varieties is being smuggled to Iran from Karachi on daily basis, resulting in pushing up the rates of fish in the market. The authorities have taken no action to restrict this thriving illegal trade.

Sources in the fisheries sector told Dawn that 20,000 to 30,000 kilograms of various fish varieties was loaded daily at the Karachi Fish Harbour in trucks for onward shipment to Pasni or Gwadar from where launches picked the fishery stocks for onward sailing to Iran.

These launches have double ‘kole’ (registration in fishery language) for moving freely in both Iran and Pakistani waters.

They said that the Tuna fish (Dawan) enjoyed the major share in the smuggled seafood products followed by Tiger Tooth Croaker (Mushka), Black Pampheret, Red Snapper (Heera), Grunter (Dhotar) and Bara Cuda etc.

Fishermen involved in this business are fetching handsome prices since there is a surge in demand from Iran. Besides, they were already perturbed over the ban on seafood exports to the European countries for the last one year.

The sources said that the price of Tuna fish used to range between Rs40-60 per kg few months back and it is now being sold Rs100 per kg. The price of black Pampheret and Tiger Tooth Croaker were Rs80-90 per kg and Rs55-60 per kg as compared to current price of Rs225 and Rs150 per kg, respectively.

Similarly, Bara Cuda used to be available at Rs50-60 per kg and now it is selling at Rs140 per kg. Grunter’s local price was Rs80-90 per kg as compared to Rs170-180 per kg.

Pakistan Seafood Industries Association chairman Sardar Mohammad Hanif Khan confirmed to Dawn that this activity had been getting momentum for the last few months and the Iranians were lifting the fish at higher prices from the local fishermen. However, he said that he had not taken up the matter with the previous government.

Now after the formation of the new government, he said, the association will take up the matter with the government as estimated Rs4 to 5 million worth of fish products were crossing the border daily.

He said that the fishermen might be getting a handsome return on their catch but in the long run this situation might create problems for the local processing and exporting industry.

Mr Hanif said that the fishermen involved in this business lifted the fish from the auction halls mainly and load them in trucks parked outside the market area. After reaching Gwadar or Pasni the fish-load is transferred to boats for forward shipments to Iran.

Meanwhile, a source in the fishery sector said that the quantity of fish shipments to Iran could be more as some 10-12 trucks move daily from the Karachi Harbour to Pasni and one truck can carry the load between 4,000 to 8,000kg. The source said that the increasing undocumented shipments to Iran from Pasni or Gwadar are one of the factors in the pushing up the fish prices in the local market.

A fish trawler owner, who asked not to be named, also confirmed the smuggling of fish to Iran. “Under current circumstances, this situation is a blessing in disguise for the fishermen and appears to be a feasible trade so far,” he said.

However, though its demerits have come up in the shape of rising fish prices in the domestic market, it has proved a real relief for the fishermen after the EU ban.

He said that the boat owners were facing problems since their operation cost had increased manifold owing to two times increase in diesel prices.

Fishermen Folk Forum President Mohammad Ali Shah, who is considered as the voice of the fishermen, showed his ignorance about the smuggling of fish to Iran.