Experts demand immediate steps to prevent plundering of marine resources

Like in many other countries of the world, illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing has emerged as a major issue for Pakistan, depriving the country of valuable foreign exchange and causing losses of millions of dollars to the national exchequer.

Dual licensing fishing boats, lack of resources with the marine security agencies and the absence of required manpower are emerging as major hindrances to checking illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, due to which foreign fishing boats and trawlers are easily venturing into the Exclusive Economic Zone of the country and depriving the Pakistanis of their previous marine resources.

These views were expressed by marine fisheries officials, maritime security experts and speakers while addressing a workshop, titled ‘Combating Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing in Pakistan’, which was jointly organised by the Worldwide Fund for Nature-Pakistan (WWF-Pakistan) and the Sindh Fisheries Department at a hotel in Karachi on Wednesday.

Experts said dual licensing of fishing boats, and the lack of resources and manpower were a big impediment to curbing IUU fishing in Pakistan and deplored that Indian fishing vessels operating in Pakistani waters are causing huge losses to the exchequer annually.

They suggested that an independent committee led by the provinces, on a rotational basis, be established to monitor, assess and manage the issue of illegal and unregulated fishing in Pakistan. The workshop also recommended a national plan of action, which should be developed by a core group, led by heads of the federal and provincial fisheries departments among other stakeholders.

Rear Admiral Zaka Ur Rehman (SI) M, DG Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA), said that all relevant departments and government agencies should work in close coordination to curb IUU. He added that the PSMA with the available resources was doing its best to remedy the situation. “Dual fishing licenses, unregistered boats, and poaching in Pakistan waters are the urgent issues which need to be addressed.”

Speaking on the occasion, Muhammad Moazzam Khan, technical adviser fisheries, WWF-Pakistan, said that IUU fishing was a significant global problem which jeopardises ecosystems, food security, and livelihoods around the world. It threatened the fish breeding grounds, local livelihoods and was a major hindrance to the recovery of fish populations, he said, adding that IUU fishing worldwide accounted for about 10 to 23 billion dollars annually.

Data collection and detection of illegal activities have been a challenge, especially in the vast areas of operation in the Indian Ocean and the Western Pacific. Khan emphasised the need to improve domestic fisheries management and provide alternate income generation opportunities to the fishers. “Regular monitoring, control and surveillance with the help of VMS would be required to trace fishing vessels and their operations in Pakistani waters.”

Rab Nawaz, senior director of the WWF-Pakistan, shared that marine resources were confronting major threats of pollution, destructive fishing methods and IUU fishing among others. In order to conserve the rich marine biodiversity, the WWF-Pakistan had initiated a number of projects under a Marine Programme, which included a study of tuna fisheries, cetacean, turtles and mangroves forests, he said.

He was of the view that IUU was a big challenge which was getting augmented very rapidly. He emphasised the need to introduce technology transfer, improve facilities at landing ports and build the capacity of officials of relevant departments. “Trans-boundary collaborations, exchange of research data and expertise can help increase depleting fish stocks in the Arabian Sea.”

Khawar Pervez Awan, additional secretary (technical), Sindh Fisheries Department, said the department was making all possible efforts to curb IUU fishing in the coastal waters of Sindh. He also shared that the department was framing rules and regulations, and additionally, TED (Turtle Excluding Device) was being installed in shrimp trawlers as required by the US from July to September.

So far 207 TEDs have been installed in fishing trawlers anchored at Ibrahim Hyderi. He also said that to support the families of 150 fishermen detained in Indian jails, the department would provide 10,000 per month for six months.

Mirza Zeeshan Baig, deputy director operations, Pakistan Marine Security Agency, said that the current challenges marine resources were facing included poaching, marine pollution, and non-registration of fishing boats. He also said that as per new Deep Sea Fisheries Policy 2018, a Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) was being installed on all boats larger than 15 meters.

He further recommended that Pakistan immediately ratify and implement the Port States Measures Agreement. He said Indian fishing boats operating in Pakistan waters caused huge economic losses to the country. The PMSA has confiscated 1,465 Indian fishing boats with 8,125 fishermen since 1987. “It is because of the strict surveillance and monitoring that eight billion losses have been reduced to one billion rupees annually,” he added.

Umair Shahid, manager of Marine Programme, WWF-Pakistan, said that all life on earth depends on a healthy ocean. “Billions of us rely on it for food, livelihoods and many other services.” He was of the view that a healthy ocean meant healthy people, food security, regional stability and a flourishing economy.

“Irresponsible practices are pushing our ocean systems to the point of collapse. Improved management can help reverse this decline and restore ocean health,” he added. Muhammad Wasim, DG Marine Fisheries Department Pakistan; Dr Babar Khan, Regional Head, WWF-Pakistan; Faisal Iftikhar, Board member WWF-Pakistan; Ghulam Muhammad Mahar, former DG Sindh Fisheries Department; Muhammad Noor, DG Balochistan Fisheries Department; and Tahir Habib, Assistant Director, Balaochistan Fisheries Department; also spoke. Group work was also conducted to receive feedback from participants regarding causes and threats from IUU fishing in the country.