RECORDER REPORT

KARACHI: Sindh Fisheries Minister Muhammad Ali Malkani has emphasized the need for development of the fisheries sector to ensure food for the growing population and to be conserved in order to sustain the nature.

Addressing a seminar on fisheries revitalization and blue economy “Opportunities for Sindh’s Sustainable Development and Blue Growth held by the Sindh Livestock and Fisheries department at a local hotel, he said that there are a number of areas to be identified which require preparation of strategies and action plans in order to enhance fisheries potential.

It has been recognized that besides climate change, actions triggered by have posed serious impact on fisheries resources leaving either decline in fish stocks or affecting biodiversity and the ecosystem.

He further said that, as a consequence, it has shown a severe impact on food security and has turned down the socioeconomic status of the community of deprived fishermen.

The minister thanked the World Bank for providing a better opportunity and assistance for the revival of fisheries in Sindh. He hoped that such partnership and cooperation shall be sustained and scale up in the future.

He also praised the role and efforts of the department to chair the occasion jointly by the assistance of the World Bank for sustainable development in fisheries sector.

The secretary of Livestock and Fisheries, Ghulam Hussain Menon, said that the fisheries are an important source of animal protein and food security and has been neglected by the donor agencies. Therefore any assistance by the World Bank for the revival and development of this sector will highly be appreciated. It is time to work on comprehensive management plans to revive the fisheries resources.

He expressed fervent hope that this workshop will generate valuable inputs towards addressing a developmental plan for the sustainability of the fisheries sector in Sindh.

A senior economist of the World Bank, Pawan Patil, and director general of the fisheries, Ghulam Muhammad Mahar, also gave detailed presentations and overviews on the blue economy in the workshop.

Representatives of the World Bank, many organization and fisheries- related persons and students faculty members of the American Soyaben Association, PFF chairman Muhammad Ali Shah, the Marine Biology Department of the Karachi University, the University of Sindh, the Pakistan Fisheries Exporters Association, the UN Food and Agriculture Department, the Marine Fisheries Ports and Shipping and other organizations also participated in seven group discussions over the topic and gave their valuable inputs in this regard.