Levies to curb illegal trawling

QUETTA:

In a move to curb illegal trawling in the Arabian Sea near Gwadar, 100 levies personnel have been transferred to the Fisheries Department.

This decision, taken by the Gwadar DC, came at the request of the Fisheries DG following a recent attack on a raiding team by illegal trawlers in the sea.

Illegal trawling poses a significant threat to marine life and local fishing communities in Gwadar, with unauthorised vessels depleting fish stocks and damaging the livelihood of local fishermen.

The deployment of levies personnel aims to strengthen enforcement efforts, providing much-needed security to the Fisheries Department during anti-trawling operations. The recent firing incident has intensified calls for action against the so-called 'trawler mafia' which has long operated with impunity in Balochistan's coastal waters.

According to officials, the illegal trawlers not only threaten the marine ecosystem, but also create risks for local fishing boats and their crew.

Officials from both the Fisheries Department and law enforcement agencies have pledged to carry out coordinated operations against illegal trawling.