SHC refuses to halt activities of foreign fishing trawlers

The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Friday turned down a verbal request to stay a permission granted to foreign fishing trawlers to fish in the deep seas of Pakistan as it sought replies from the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and others on the matter.

A division bench – comprising Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar and Justice Arshad Hussain Khan – issued this order while hearing a petition filed by local fishermen against issuance of licenses to foreign fishing vessels.

The petition demanded that a commission comprising a judge should be formed for devising a fishing policy. It also called for imposing a ban on foreign fishing trawlers.

"It is a policy matter hence the court cannot intervene much," Justice Ali Mazhar remarked while hearing the petition.

The court sought a detailed reply from the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and others on December 23 and dismissed the verbal plea seeking stay on issuing license to the foreign trawlers.

“The matter will be reviewed after the submission of written replies by the parties,” the judge added.

Earlier, the Ministry of Maritime Affairs’ fisheries development commissioner informed the bench about the policy for issuing fishing licenses. The reply submitted to the court stated that the government of Pakistan had conducted a survey on the cultivation of fish in collaboration with the United Nations

The survey revealed that fishing is under way in the country in a merciless manner and the fish stocks will deplete fast if the situation persists. The survey also shared the correct method of fishing.

It said a large number of fisher boats have been registered while deep-sea trawlers are also used. Untrained fishermen are also damaging fish stocks. The reply said the Sindh government has an important role in improving the management of marine life.

The reply said it is mandatory for the fishers to install a turtle detecting device. The US has banned the import of crabs from Pakistan. Europe has also halted the trading of fish due to the poor condition of the fish harbour and there is a need of improving the environment of harbours in Pakistan.

It said that a ban should be imposed on unchecked fishing practices while the number of boats should also be reduced. The law and order situation in the fish harbor society of Korangi should be improved.

A vessel monitoring system should be installed in boats. The Sindh and federal government need to jointly improve the condition and arrangement of the fish harbor and fishermen, it said.

A fishing trawler is a commercial fishing vessel designed to operate fishing trawls or nets that are pulled along the bottom of the sea or in mid-water at a specified depth.  Trawling is a method of fishing that involves actively dragging or pulling a trawl through the water behind one or more trawlers.