Fishermen demand erection of seawall around islands

Fishermen want the ports and shipping ministry to erect a seawall around the tiny islands to protect them from sea storms, besides establishment of model village between the Manora and Baba Islands. "After passing of 18th Constitutional Amendment, the fisheries sector has become part of ports and shipping ministry and therefore we want it to play its role in solving fishermen's long-standing issues," said President of Bona Fide Fishermen and Boat Owners Association, Asif Bhatti.
He said there are many issues including the heavy degrading of the navigational channel which caused the islands' levels to slide into the seawater, damaging the residential area besides cutting of mangroves behind these islands is creating big insecurity to them against sea storms. He said about 30 acres of land are laying empty between Manora and Baba Islands, which the fishermen community wanted the ports and shipping ministry to establish a model villages with all basic amenities including schools, hospitals and playgrounds. He also demanded the ministry to play its role in lifting the EU ban on the country's seafood export, saying it had to take stern action to solve the Karachi Fish Harbour's issues hindering the ban lift.
"The tiny islands are nearly to reach the level of being falling gradually into the seaport's navigational channel for heavy dredging around them and there is no solution to the issue," Bhatti said. He said catch landing issues at Karachi Fish Harbour is also lying unsolved for many reasons which the ministry has to understand for their permanent resolution, adding fishermen are ready to cooperate in this connection.
He also complained about the different agencies including maritime security agency, coast guards, customs and in addition to it KPT's role is putting negative impact on their daily voyages, saying there should be set procedures for them to help seafarers instead of troubling them. He also demanded the ministry to get the deep-sea trawling training arranged by Marine Fisheries Department for the fishermen so that they could trawl with better techniques.