Receding water in to the river Indus at downstream Kotri has caused decline in fish species of sweet water, including palla, one of the most delicious fish.
Being exposed to this visible threat to life and livelihood of 0.3 million fishermen, who have been depending on the catch of fish for generations, the inland fishermen have decided to launch a world wide campaign to save palla and other endangered sweet water fish species of the River Indus. They are planning to launch an effective advocacy with the policy makers and campaign to mobilise the scattered communities, who derive their livelihoods from the river, canals, lakes and water reservoirs.
"We will raise the issue at different fora, local and international, to save these fish species, especially palla, as this delicious specie is about to become extinct," said Arab Mallah, President Tarraqi Passand Mallah Tanzeem, while talking to this scribe.
Fishermen of 14 villages downstream Kotri, in Hyderabad district and 32 villages in Thatta district have been depending on catch of palla fish through centuries but for the last seven eight years these sweet water fish species are seen almost vanishing from the Indus river, he added.
"We have observed that many fish species, which we used to find easily from these canals and natural lakes, located in Thatta and Badin districts, were depleting due to acute water shortage there."
Recalling the past days, Arab Mallah said in 1960 a traditional small boat used to bring 1200-2000 palla daily from the river and the specie was main item for export. But now in the same net the fishermen are unable to catch a single palla from downstream Kotri as there is no more water in the river.
He said since the last seven years hundreds of traditional fishermen families have migrated to Punjab and coastal areas of Karachi in search of livelihood from delta region and other tail-end areas.
Talking about the situation of small lakes and canals, he said that earlier fisherman having small boat, used to bring at least five kg fish from a lake but now return with empty hands. Because, the river being the main source of these lakes and canals, has dried.
Sindh has 1209 waters, (lakes and other sources of fish), majority of which has been dried and there is no more fish to provide livelihood to the communities. Fishermen of Baqar Lake, Sanghar, once used to catch fish weighing 52kg, now are compelled by acute poverty to catch under grown fish for their families' survival.
Earlier, fishermen, bringing 14kg of fish, would present palla to friends and neighbours as gift, but now the same families are facing starvation-like situation.
Arab Mallah said the use of destructive boolo, gujjo and wire nets by local influential sea lords has also destroyed the livelihood of fishermen, as these nets catch even juvenile fish and causing complete destruction of the fish stocks.
These people have backing of government functionaries and parliamentarians hence they are forcing the poor people to leave their abodes, he said.
The water flow into river is the source of migration of fish from the sea towards the River, which is beneficial for both marine and inland fishing communities, who are the real custodians of these water bodies through centuries, fisherman said.
Hundreds of thousands fish move up stream to River Indus from the sea, particularly in flood season. They said that earlier, palla used to travel up to Multan but now it could not be found in river even near Sukkur.
However, they were hoping that current rains and floods might increase the flow of fresh water into the river Indus, its tributaries and in the sea but in vain. In this situation, several natural lakes, the main source of livelihood of fisherman either have been dried or turned into polluted ponds due to shortage of fresh water. Giving example, the fishermen said six fishermen had died recently due to drinking polluted water from the Chach lake, which was also the main source of livelihood for several fishermen families.
Mustafa Meerani, leader of inland fishermen from the biggest Manchhar Lake, Dadu district quoting government record said between the period of 1947 and 1994 Manchhar produced 1500 tonnes fish annually, but now it could not produce 100 tonnes annually, as the lake has turned into polluted pond. Besides this, out of 52 fish species about 40 have been wiped out from the lake due to pollution and excessive catch of juvenile fish.
According to recommendations of IUCN 27 million acre feet should be released into the sea to maintain ecosystem. While the fishermen believe that at least 33maf water should be released into the sea through river Indus, otherwise sea intrusion could increase further, which may cause wide destruction of coastal land and people residing there.