Fishermen mull protest drive

http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=67039

Jan Khaskheli

Karachi

Fishermen have decided to stage protest demonstrations against fish traders, owners of seafood processing units and middlemen “for depriving them of proper rates of their catch”.

This exercise of under-rating of their catch was affecting 0.7 million fishermen who solely depend on fishing, said Mohammed Ali Shah, Chairperson Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum (PFF), while talking to The News. “It is a common problem for all the fishermen who earn their livelihood from the sea, rivers, water reservoirs and lakes,” he added.

In this regard, representatives of PFF, boat owners and workers met at Karachi Fish Harbour on Saturday and decided to announce their protest schedule on August 7.

Fishermen from city’s coastal areas and allied organisations would stage protest rallies in different towns and their workplaces to force the government resolve their outstanding problems immediately.

Prominent among those who attended the meeting, included: Director Fishermen Cooperative Society Haji Shafi Jamote, PFF Chairperson Mohammed Ali Shah, Haji Younus, Haji Zakaria, Haji Faqeer Mohammed, Habibullah Niazi, Haji Ali Mohammed, Majeed Motani, Younus Dawood and other stakeholders.

The meeting formed a Fishermen Action Committee. This committee will chalk out a strategy for the protest campaign.

Fishermen have resumed their fishing activities after two-month (June-July) official ban, however, fish traders, owners of seafood processing units and middlemen have fixed shrimp rate at Rs200 per kg as against Rs600 per kg fixed prior to the ban, the meeting noted.

They warned that if the government did not take action against fish traders, owners of seafood processing units and middlemen within 15 days, the fishermen would block Keamari harbour’s channel, completely blocking the movement of ships at the country’s major port.

They said that traders were depriving the fishermen of due rates of their catch, including shrimps, for the last 15 years on the pretext of sanctions imposed by European Union on Pakistani seafood. They said this situation had forced fishermen to undergo starvation-like situation.

 KARACHI: Fishermen to observe strike on 9^th

By Our Staff Reporter

http://www.dawn.com/2007/08/08/local14.htm

KARACHI, Aug 7: An action committee for the protection of fishermen’s rights was formed here on Tuesday by representatives of the fisherfolk community. The newly-formed committee has decided to observe a complete strike in the coastal areas of Sindh, including the Karachi Fish Harbour, on August 9 in protest against the indifferent attitude of the government towards the problems of the fishermen community.

All fishing activity would stop and there would be no landing of shrimps at the Karachi Harbour on the day.

The committee’s announcement was made by Haji Shafi Mohammad Jamote, head of the fishermen community at Ibrahim Hayderi village, who is also one of the directors of the 15-member board of directors of the Fishermen’s Cooperative Society, at a press conference held at the Karachi Press Club.

Mr Jamote accused the owners of processing units of creating an artificial crisis at the Karachi Fish Harbour by forcing the fishermen to sell shrimps at throwaway prices on the pretext of a ban on the imports of Pakistan seafood by European countries. He said that the exporters, who earlier bought shrimps at Rs600 per kilo, are now paying Rs200 per kilo.

He said the abrupt decrease in shrimp prices had perturbed the fishermen because they would be unable to meet the high cost of fuel and food, besides the necessities of daily life.
‘Govt has done nothing for sector’

Mr Jamote criticised the policies of the federal and provincial governments vis-à-vis fishermen and held them responsible for the miserable conditions of the community.

He said several government agencies were working in the fisheries sector but did not bring the slightest improvement into the sector.

The EU countries had banned the imports of Pakistani seafood some three months back and de-listed some 11 processing units, but the government did nothing to restore the confidence of the EU importers, he claimed.

Mr Jamote said that working conditions at the harbour had never been up to the mark and the situation had worsened after the takeover of political appointees to the FCS board.

He said if steps were not taken to stabilise the prices of shrimps, the fishermen would be forced to close the KPT and Keamari channels and would launch a phase-wise struggle.

Also present at the press conference were Mr Mohammad Shah, Chairman of the Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum, FCS directors Haji Younis, Haji Ali, Habibullah Niazi and representatives of the fisherfolk communities Haji Faqir Mohammad, Zur Khan, Asif Bhatti, Haji Sargand, Haji Ahmad Kuchchi and Gohar Khan.