Fishermen of Karachi fish harbour on Monday expressed concerns over the perilous condition of marine species in 1200 creeks on the province coastal belt because of excessive use of banned fishing nets. "The government should take a stern action against those involved in fishing through banned nets, killing the undersized fish and shrimp in the creeks," President of Bona Fide Fishermen and Boat Owners Welfare Association, Asif Bhatti demanded.
He said fish and shrimp were being caught through 3500 bolo gujo - a type of banned fishing net tied in the province's 1200 creeks, as the activities continued unchecked because of the government's lack of interest to protect the marine life from early demise.
He said the Sindh government has set mesh size of 1.5 cm for catching shrimp and 2.5 for fish in the sea but ignored the creeks where influential people were unquestionable under the law. He said the government was only playing politics and victimising the fishermen of Karachi fish harbour.
Bhatti said the toxic waste and chemical which the industries emitted into sea also posed a big danger to the fish and shrimp of shorelines, besides deep-sea marine species. He urged the government to turn its focus on the issues which had badly damaged the ecology of the sea and are damaging the existing marine system.