RECORDER REPORT

KARACHI: The Sindh government has also permitted fishermen to sail their ‘all kind’ of boats within the territorial waters, i.e. 12 nautical miles, according to officials on Saturday.

Earlier through a modified order, the government drew SOPs for trading and export of seafood at the fish harbour but spared fishermen from the specifications. However, now the government by an amendment into the previous order allowed all kind of boats to hunt.

“In partial modification of this Department’s order of even number dated 12-04-2020, Government of Sindh in exercise of powers conferred under Section 3 of the Sindh Epidemic Disease Act 2014 is pleased to allow all kind of boats for fishing activities within the territorial waters limits of Sindh Province,” according to the addendum.

Underling Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for trade of fish and shrimp and their supplies to processing units, the Sindh government wants a strict observance to the rules to avoid spreading Covid-19 further.

It also warned that an individual or a stakeholder found violating the SOPs at the harbour will be punished under Section 4 of the Sindh Epidemic Disease Control Act 2014.

SOPs say: All the stakeholders are required to submit an undertaking in writing to Karachi Fish Harbour Authority agreeing to follow the government’s instructions with ensuring social distancing and preventive measures and will provide masks, gloves and sanitizers to workers.

Officials of KFHA and Fishermen Cooperative Society (FCS) are assigned to monitor all operations at the harbour by controlling traffic to avoid congestion. Seafood catch will be supplied directly to export-oriented factories from boat.

Auction of fish and shrimp catch will be held at the vessel with each representative from FCS, mole-holder, and up to five traders attending the sale-purchase process. Not more than five labourers will be allowed on a boat to offload catch after the auction has taken place.

Landing timing for all boats at the harbour will be from 6 pm to 6 am. After auction of seafood catch, the FCS officials will carry out sanitizing and cleaning of the entire area where auctioned catch was discharged including jetties. Only the KFHA and FCS authorised vehicles will be permitted to enter the harbour.

Entrance to the export zone will be only through sanitizing gates installed by the FCS. No trader will be permitted to enter the harbour premises while placing seafood catch on the floor will not be allowed. There should not be a public gathering for more than four persons at the harbour, besides all boasts be driven out of the navigational channel, immediately. Lastly, the owners of processing plants will be responsible for to regulate work shifts so congestion of labourers could be avoided.

Pakistan’s export of seafood grew by 12.35 percent to $278.637 million in July-Feb 2019-20. Increase in seafood export now stands at $30.637 million in July-Feb 2019-20 from $248 million in July-Feb 2018-19, Pakistan Bureau of Statistics shows.

Export volume of seafood also went up by 5 percent or 6440 metric tonnes to 114,865 metric tonnes in July-Feb 2019-20 from 108,425 metric tonnes in July-Feb 2018-19. Down by 17.08 percent or $5.251 million, seafood export declined to $25.495 million in Feb 2020 from $30.746 million in Feb 2019. The country exported 11,504 metric tonnes of seafood in Feb 2020, which is low by 15 percent or 2002 metric tonnes, from 13,506 metric tonnes in Feb 2019.