THE recently announced “National Policy and Strategy for Fisheries and Aquaculture Development” by the federal ministry of food, agriculture and livestock outlines a number of measures to improve the lives of poor fishermen.

This is perhaps the first-ever policy for this sector. To various extents, the fishery issues were covered under agriculture policies or livestock policies. The Agriculture Enquiry Committee report in the 1970’s and that of the National Agriculture Commission in 1987 gave some attention to the fisheries sector, but they failed to make a major impact because of inadequate coverage of the real issues.

During 1988, 1995 and 2001, some policies for deep sea fishing were formulated but these were specifically aimed at promoting fishing through licensing arrangements in the Exclusive Economic Zone of Pakistan and only marginally covered aspects of the national/local small-scale coastal fisheries.

The new policy is stated to be designed to increasing the contribution of the fisheries and aquaculture sectors to national economic growth, poverty alleviation and food security.

The parameters have been set for sustainable development of inland and coastal aquaculture production, sustainable increase in inland and marine capture fisheries production, resolving post-harvest issues, higher per capita fish consumption, improved fishers’ and fish-farmers’ incomes, creation of well-paid employment in the fisheries and aquaculture sectors and increased export earnings from aquatic products.

The policy document also spells out the policy, strategy and its implementation plan, institutional monitoring and recommendations for legal improvements.

As local stakeholders were not consulted, the policy got a lukewarm response from the fishermen community and the civil society, who have been expressing concerns over the plight of fishermen. They have described the current policy as an export- oriented, commercial and anti-community policy, with no vision to resolve the issues confronting fishermen in their struggle for livelihood.

Analysts see a continuity of the previous policy. They have urged the government to start a fresh dialogue with all the stakeholders to review the existing policy or to initiate a new one. On the other hand, the Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum (PFF) along with the civil society has drafted a sustainable fisheries policy in consultation with stakeholders.

Under the European Commission (EC) supported the project “Sustainable Livelihood Development initiatives in Disaster Prone Areas of Pakistan”. Oxfam with the collaboration of PDI conducted a study on “Fishing Rights and Sustainable Fishing Practices in Sindh”. Analysing the fishing policies and practices, the study pointed out the gaps in the policy, legal framework and practices which were responsible for the degradation of the coastal fisheries resources in the province.

The local fishermen communities in Sindh and Balochistan and relevant NGOs including the Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum, the Pakistan Mahigir Tehrik, the Sindh Democratic Forum etc have already initiated dialogues among all the stakeholders to persuaded the government to follow commitments made during the general election 2008 with the poor fishermen.

Pakistan is endowed with vast aquatic resources including freshwater, brackish water and marine resources, which can be utilised for aquaculture development by economically efficient and environmentally sustainable policies and practices.

The fishery plays an important role in providing livelihood to local communities. More than 471,000 fisherfolk, including 287,000 inland fisherfolk, find employment in the sector, while the secondary sector (fishery products processing, input provision and marketing) provides employment and income to more than 110,000 households (FAO data 2003). Capture fisheries and aquaculture together provide employment for around one per cent of the total labour force and contribute around one per cent of the GDP.

Under the Constitution, the fisheries sector is a provincial subject and the federation has no right to impose its policy. Instead, provincial governments should frame their own policy. The Constitution guarantees the security of lives and livelihood of all citizens without any discrimination.

Major policies regarding fisheries had always been imposed by the federal government without consulting the representatives of indigenous fishermen communities. Provincial governments must frame their own policies keeping in view the socio-economic conditions of their respective jurisdiction. History has proved that the role of federal authorities in resolving the issues of fishermen has been nominal as they have never addressed the real issues. Policies made by federal authorities have never addressed the real issues of the fishermen seriously and have only added to their miseries because they are unaware of the ground realities.

There are hundreds of villages of fishermen settled along the coastline of Sindh and Balochistan and their existence depends on the fishing sector which is currently under tremendous pressure. Over-fishing by foreign and local trawlers has ruined the coastal economy besides bringing untold sufferings particularly to small fishermen.

The federal government bas been criticised for allowing operation of deep-sea trawlers in the country’s water zone which is one of the key factors in the depletion of fish species. The Sindh government has also failed to implement the laws banning use of destructive nets. The unregulated fishing on the coast of Sindh has not only wiped out fish species but also deprived the small fishermen of their livelihood. Despite repeated protests by the fishermen, the government has done nothing to stop this devastating practice.

While framing a new national fisheries policy, the government should look into such factors as over-fishing (both by foreign and local trawlers), use of illegal nets, destruction of mangroves and pollution caused by industrial and domestic waste, resulting in the extinction of fish species.

Tremendous damage has also been caused to fish species as a result of destruction of mangroves. There is a need for promoting aquaculture, hatcheries and construction of more jetties and transportation and processing facilities to direct exports of sea products to Karachi. Entry of people from other professions on commercial basis into fisheries should be discouraged and incentives be provided to indigenous fishermen for developing the fish industry.

The current proposed policy is silent on issues that Badin has turned into the most devastated area for the fishing community; sea intrusion has wreaked havoc in that region, forcing hundreds of fishermen families to give up their ancestral profession and migrate to other areas. Pollution in Manchar Lake is pushing local fishermen to evacuate their centuries-old sources of livelihood.

The faulty drainage schemes including LBOD and RBOD have exacerbated environmental degradation in the fishing catchment areas of lower and upper Sindh. In Thatta and Badin, sugarcane mills are also destroying groundwater and polluting the fishing catchment areas.The policy is blind on the issues of compensation and rehabilitation of fishermen community who were affected by the Chotiari Dam in Sanghar.

The government should provide financial support to fishermen during off-season. The Fishing Co-operative Society should have more representatives of fishermen and the role of government officials in decision-making should be restricted. There is need to conduct a survey of the fishing stocks and consult fishermen’s representative bodies before formulating a policy.

The civil society has identified the following key gaps in the national policy framework:

*Acceleration in exploitation amidst confirmed reports of drastic reduction in fisheries resources.

* Endorsement of the much criticised open entry policy in fisheries by not acknowledging the ‘Historical Livelihood Rights” of the fisherfolk communities. The fisherfolk communities have even not been declared major stakeholder in the policy.

The major thrust and emphasis is on aquaculture development. The first of three policy goals puts emphasis on “increase the contribution of fisheries and aquaculture sectors to national economic growth”.

“Increasing the role of private sector and attracting investment in fisheries sector. It means further commercialisation and corporatisation of fisheries sector.

A paradigm shift is required to improve regulation and management of the fisheries. The government should act promptly in the interest of fishermen and save them from further ruination.