Pakistan’s fish stocks depleting fast

By Shahid Shah
Saturday, March 26, 2011

KARACHI: Pakistan’s fish stocks are depleting at a rate of 15 percent a year, a top exporter said. M Faisal Iftikhar, chairman Pakistan Fisheries Exporters Association (PAKFEA), said that fish stocks were depleting quickly. A fisherman with more than 40 years in the business said no survey of fish stocks had been conducted in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of Pakistan for 28 years. “I think fish stocks have declined by 75 percent.” … According to the FAO, out of 600 marine fish stocks monitored by the organisation, three percent are underexploited, 20 percent moderately exploited, 52 per cent fully exploited, 17 per cent overexploited, 7 percent depleted and one percent recovering from depletion. “The FAO does not have any particular observation of Pakistani waters,” said an official. Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum (PFF) Chairman Mohammad Ali Shah said their local survey showed a decline of 75 percent in marine resources. One scientific survey showed that by 2048, the world’s fish stocks would come to an end if emergency measures were not taken now. Over-fishing and degradation of marine environment have endangered several species. After the decline in fresh water discharge into Indus delta, ghanghro, mori and palla (local names of fish species) either migrated from sweet water mangroves or died, said Majeed Motani, a fisherman. At the junction of sweet and saline water, several species of shark including liaro, mandrio, wasiyoon and kaher “are not seen now. They were in big numbers before the ‘80s,” he said. Open sea species dhothar, hero and sona and deep-sea species phandan-seyan and shoqi-khago are also on the decline. …