Coast guards detain four illegal fish trawlers
The Pakistan Coast Guards on Monday detained four illegal trawlers and arrested 84 people belonging to the trawler mafia in Balochistan’s Gwadar district.
Provincial fisheries department including the fishermen of Gwadar appreciated the efforts and action being taken by the BAP-led government.
It is pertinent to note that the local fishermen of Gwadar and Lasbela are getting employment opportunities again since the government has begun operations against illegal trawlers.
The fishermen of Balochistan had recently staged a sit-in in Gwadar against the illegal trawlers mafia for almost a month.
The protest prompted Chief Minister Mir Abdul Quddus Bizenjo to visit Gwadar and order stern action against the mafia at the request of locals.
Last year in December, Prime Minister Imran Khan had announced that the government would take "strong action" against illegal fishing by trawlers off the Gwadar coast.
In a tweet, the premier said he had taken notice of the "very legitimate demands" of the hardworking fisherfolk of Gwadar, a linchpin of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project.
According to the premier, he would also speak to CM Bizenjo so the reservations of the province’s fisherfolk community could be addressed.
In October 2021, it was decided to install a vessel monitoring system on the boats and all local fishermen will ensure registration of their boats with the government.
The Balochistan Fisheries Department said it was unable to take strict action against boats involved in illegal fishing in its coastal waters due to lack of resources including modern and fast boats and manpower.
After the government began conducting operations, rare and other types of fish have turned into the waters of Balochistan apart from the colors of Gwadar jetty being also restored.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 8th, 2022.