Rains boost livelihood chances of fishermen at Manchar Lake

HYDERABAD: The recent widespread rains have filled the Manchar Lake with more fish seed. Local people say the lake received water from the catchment area, and they were now hopeful of better livelihood opportunities.

For the seed to turn into juvenile fish, the fishermen have to wait for three-four months. Only a few small boats operate in low waters, harvest their nets and catch small daya fish to earn meagre incomes. These boat operators cannot risk harvesting small nets in high waters, as fish usually moves to the bottom. Famous 'bund manchhar market' has lesser crowd of dealers and community suppliers for auction in this season.

Mustafa Mallah, a community leader said: "Water level is improving and it has touched above 12-feet at the embankments. It is receiving fresh water through natural flooding channels, bringing plenty of fish seeds."

He reminds the benefits would come after three to four months. "It will start giving profit to the community after three-four months. Because this fresh seed needs a few months time to grow the right size and weight," he said.

The late rains were a good omen for them, Mustafa said, "Earlier, in June, the government as usual emptied the lake via canals to make room for flood waters. But when the rains did not come until the end of June, we feared losing our only source of income. These late rains are a blessing.”

Presently, a majority of young fishermen living in scattered villages near this lake have already gone to marine waters in Karachi and Balochistan in search of better livelihoods.According to local activists, the provincial government's fisheries officials were expected to release new fish seed in millions to benefit the communities.

New alien fish varieties have been introduced in the provincial freshwater bodies, which include gulfam and grass carp. Mostly, these varieties with larger size and weight are in private fish farms in the province.

Though reports said there were 531 fish species in Pakistan, 233 of which were in freshwater bodies, the changes in weather patterns, disruption in freshwater flows, and over fishing have reduced the count of common species in fresh water lakes. The common commercial fish varieties include morakho, kuriro, singari, theri, and jarko.

The Manchhar Lake, spread over 223 square kilometre, and bordering Jamshoro and Dadu districts, was given the status of a reservoir in 1974 to store more water to avoid a flood situation. The government's irrigation department empties the lake through outlets in River Indus annually.

They cannot calculate the weather situation and in some cases, the lake dries up, leaving the fishermen in a helpless situation.There is a common understanding among fishermen of fresh waters to have a policy initiative with the consent of the community to decide about water availability, enforce ban on use of harmful nets, and educate young fishermen for conservation of their own source of living.

Increased pollution due to drainage of toxic effluents into the rivers and lakes has increased the hardships of the communities dependent on these water bodies. The case of Manchar is the same, which receives waste throughout the year by the Main Nara Valley (MNV) drain, while the government has yet to find a better solution.