In a first, fishing permitted in summer

Annual fishing ban in June, July lifted by Sindh CM amid coronavirus crisis

KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister (CM) Syed Murad Ali Shah has decided to offer relief to the fishermen community by allowing them to fish in the sea in June this year amid the coronavirus crisis and expected cyclones in the coming months.

Shah met Pakistan Peoples Party's MNA Qadir Patel on Tuesday, where he was informed by the latter that the fishermen had suffered huge losses in recent months due to high tides, cyclones and the lockdown amid the pandemic.

He said that the months of annual restriction due to the breeding season of the marine species - June and July - had started, but the survival of people associated with the profession would be impossible in these circumstances if they were unable to earn their livelihoods. CM Shah stated that he was aware of the situation and therefore, the fishermen would be allowed to go fishing, directing the provincial livestock and fisheries department to submit a summary for the removal of the restriction on fishing.

Earlier, on Saturday, the livestock and fisheries department had called a meeting to discuss the possibility of lifting the ban from fishing from June to August.

Fishermen Cooperative Society chairperson Abdul Bar had told the Express Tribune that fishermen had already been hit hard by the suspension of fishing expeditions for two months during the lockdown and hence, it was requested of Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah to lift the ban on fishing expeditions.

Moreover, the society had also written a letter to the Sindh CM, beseeching him to make an exception this year.

Bar had claimed that the exporters were also demanding that the suspension be revoked. 

Published in The Express Tribune, June 3^rd, 2020.