Manchhar Lake’s receding water runs money for fishermen

HYDERABAD: The emptying of water from Manchhar Lake by the Irrigation department in the wake of monsoon warning is creating earning opportunities for local fishermen in the summer season.  

The department is emptying the lake – located some 18-kilometre from the River Indus – through two irrigation canals, Danistar and Arral, into the river. 

The idea behind emptying the water is that 233-square kilometre long Manchhar Lake is to receive more freshwater and lower the intensity of the expected flood. The lake has a 12-foot water storing capacity. 

The government authorities usually empty the lake between March and July to avoid any mishap in shape of flood after rains in mid-July. 

It is the only lake in the province with around 1,209 fresh water bodies. The lake is emptied usually with an objective to lower the intensity of the flood in River Indus.

However, the community’s perception is quite different, saying the understanding of government authorities on the weather pattern creates problems. 

Lacking weather knowledge: Fishermen say the fertile lake has been emptied on the several occasions during this season to receive fresh water. But, due to sudden weather change there was neither rain at hilly areas to fill the lake nor the river received more water flow to benefit the largest water body. Resultantly, the lake was ruined and became dead for years, forcing the fishing community run for money.

In 2010 flood, Manchhar Lake received floodwater from various sources and caused destruction. But, fishermen took the flood as a blessing in disguise to have more fish for long. But they say it depends on the weather and a possibility of rainfalls. The lake usually receives water from hill torrents and around a dozen natural mountainous rivers during the monsoons.  

Local fishermen call it a routine in the summer season. Small fishing boats operating in the lake come to local fish markets, known as Bund Manchhar, twice a day in morning and evening for selling catches. The market opening time is between 7am and 11-am or 4pm to 7pm; it is up to the visits of the boatmen. Traders, community and middlemen have a proper auction mechanism, which is rare at other fresh water bodies.

The market was built in 1993 to facilitate the community to sell their product near their areas. Otherwise, before this structured formal market, there were makeshift markets at different places around the lake, where boats faced difficulties.

Manchhar Lake had got the status of reservoir in 1973 and the government built embankment to store water. Presently, the fish market receives 50--70 maunds of juvenile fish sold as trash fish. Hardly two to three maunds of commercial fish come daily at the market. They are then transported to all the major cities.

Due to receding lake water in this season, the unaware fishermen get benefit to catch remaining fish without considering that its’ is juvenile fish.

Declining catches: Obviously, there is a cry for declining catch in the major lake and hundreds of fishermen reportedly have migrated to Karachi and Balochistan coasts.

Community leader Mustafa Mirani said catching juvenile fish is a loss for all.  “This specie should be protected,” Mirani said. “A juvenile fish takes three to four months to grow and may have more price in the market.”

Fishermen argue since canals do not have hydraulic gates, entire fish seeds drown into the river. At the end, the local community gets no benefit. They urged the government to install hydraulic gates to stop the draining of seeds.

Mirani said the Sindh government’s fisheries and irrigation departments are reluctant to understand the arguments of the community people despite being the major stakeholders and natural custodians of the lake.

Though it is ban on marine water fishing, the inland water fishermen are enjoying fish during this season. 

Three decades ago, more than 20 commercial species were reported at the lack, but now only five or six were left. The remaining freshwater fish species include Morakho, Kuriro, Jarko, Thelhi and Daee. Their prices range between Rs100 to Rs300 per kilogram, depending on weight and size. However, its prices are 50 to 100 percent more in the urban markets.

The community leaders believe the lack might lose 80 percent of its fish stocks over the years.

The causes of dying breeds include inflows of polluted water from rice growing areas and urban waste from various cities.

Indifference of government: 

There is no cold storage facility in the area to avert the loss to the community and traders. The community elders also demand the government to provide feed for fish culture so the fish may nurture and benefit to the fishermen, who depend on the catch.

There are around (500,000) 0.5 million fishermen, directly involved in fish catch in all the fresh water bodies of the province. Only in Manchhar, some 500 small fishing boats are operating. Apart from this, there are 50 residential boats, which also catch fish and they all move to this market for business. Some boats operate in early morning, while others move to afternoon and return to the market before the sunset.

Researchers said there is no latest survey on fresh water bodies to ascertain the water quality, status of seasonally variable fish stock, vegetation cover, availability of fish species, sources of feeding, number of operating boats and involved workforce. 

The government should be sensitised to the dying culture and moved to save the water bodies and source of living for the local communities.