By By Jan Khaskheli
Fishermen activists advocating for the rights of marine communities around the globe have been concerned about the loss of mangroves that serve as home for a diverse range plant and animal life. Mangroves are also a source of income for local communities, and prevent soil erosion and protect the coast from storms. The International Day of Mangroves was observed on Sunday (July 26) and this year’s theme calls for global action against the shrimp farming industry and demands the conservation of precious mangrove areas. This worldwide move may mark the beginning of a stronger international network of small-scale fishermen.
The Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum (PFF) has designed different activities to express solidarity with the world fishing communities in this regard. PFF Chairperson Mohammed Ali Shah is opposed to the government’s plan to promote aquaculture which, he believes, will be disastrous for a community that is completely dependent on fishing. Shah said that the entire world has learnt a lesson from the colossal damage to the environment and the effects on fish catch owing to the destruction of mangroves. The latter are breeding grounds for shrimp and other commercial fish species. The destruction of mangroves means these communities lose their only source of income, he added.
Thirty per cent of the shrimp and prawns produced worldwide come from the mangroves. Activists believe that the greatest threat to mangroves worldwide is shrimp farming — about 35 per cent of mangroves around the world have been destroyed in the last 20 years. In Pakistan, mangrove forests have been reduced to only 73,000 hectares from 600,000 hectares (marked 20 years back). In fact, aquaculture is not promoted on a large scale here but the government functionaries have made plans, which, unfortunately, did not bear favourable results.
Shah criticised the government’s plan to invite multi-national companies (MNCs) to invest in this field to fetch foreign exchange instead of promoting sustainable aquaculture on a small scale so that the community can be provided with an alternative source of livelihood.
Shrimp farming requires cutting down mangroves to build ponds. Once the mangroves are ripped out, the coast is rendered unstable and many creatures lose their habitat. Activists point out that the ponds are treated with antibiotics, pesticides and fish feed, and the toxic mix is often dumped into the surrounding land or waterways.
Karachi, once the most protected zone in this regard, is now vulnerable to disasters and cyclones, as its mangroves forests are being cut rapidly for the sake of urban development. A number of workers can be seen transporting mangrove wood from the Karachi islands to different beaches daily. This illegal business, in connivance with certain political elements, may cause more trouble for this city of over 16 million in the near future. In this regard, a PFF spokesman said that workers are engaged in mangrove cutting near the coastal localities of Rehri and Ibrahim Hyderi. They are being paid Rs200 per day by a contractor. Several truckloads and donkey carts shift the sea wood to different warehouses. There is no check by government agencies regarding this huge loss.
Activists also said that this business of mangrove cutting is perhaps the most organised, illegal business of its kind. The wood is used for manufacturing matchsticks and ice-cream sticks. As a result of this, coastal communities in Pakistan are dealing with over-fishing as licenses are being issued to factory trawlers.