Govt denies presence of foreign fishing trawlers

Ali Zaidi says bottom trawling banned in Balochistan

ISLAMABAD:

Minister for Maritime Affairs Ali Haider Zaidi on Friday informed the National Assembly that foreign fishing vessels were not being allowed to fish in Pakistan’s exclusive economic zone to protect the interests of local fishermen.

Responding to questions during the Question Hour, the minister said that the deep sea fishing policy had been announced after consultations with the stakeholders.

He said the bottom trawling had been banned in Balochistan as it damaged the marine life and ecosystem.

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In response to another question, Zaidi said that the maritime ministry proposed amendments in consultation with the stakeholders as a major concern of local fishermen was regarding the issuance of deep-sea fishing licences to foreign entities and foreign joint ventures.

This practice, he said, deprived the local fishermen of their livelihood in the past. Therefore, through the amendments in the said rules, no licence was being issued to the foreign vessels or foreign joint ventures.