Wildlife Department proposes ban on fishing from Guddu to Sukkur Barrage: Sindh Assembly told

Sindh Wildlife Department has demanded of the Chief Minister to impose a ban on fishing in Indus River from Guddu Barrage to Sukkur Barrage to protect the fresh water species including blind dolphins, provincial minister for Wildlife, Dr Diya Ram, told Sindh Assembly here on Thursday.
The minister informed the house about the danger, which the lethal fishing methods posed to the fresh water species including blind dolphin in Indus River. He said the fishermen were using chemical and toxic substances in a bid to catch huge amount of fish, which have adverse affects on the blind dolphins. He said his department had sent a summary to Chief Minister Sindh for ban on fishing in danger zone of the river.
Responding the questions of legislators regarding the status of wildlife in the province, Diya Ram said 24 blind dolphins had died during January 2011 to October 2011. However the department had immediately set up a committee to ascertain the rising incidents of the dolphins' death, he said.
He said that the committee's report had revealed the fishermen were using chemical and toxic substances in their fishing activities, which caused the deaths of the dolphin. He apprised the house about the chemical waste being discharged into the river was also a reason of the dolphins' death.
He said the committee had also outlined recommendations to protect the dolphins, which the department was following. He said the department had started a programme costing Rs 96.026 million to install modern gadgets in 10 different areas of the river, which hamper the blind dolphins to enter the canals. According to a survey, he said, in 1996, 458 dolphins, in 1999, 499 dolphins, 2001, 620 dolphins, in 2006, 811 dolphins, in 2011 950 dolphins perished.