Sindh govt shows reservations on proposed deep sea fishing policy  

KARACHI: The Sindh government believes that after the enforcement of 18th Constitutional amendment the fisheries sector exclusively pertains to the provincial government, therefore it is competent enough to issue fishing licenses and regulate fishing operations being carried out at the harbors and sea shore.

This was stated by Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah while talking to Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Sikandar Hayat Bosan on the issue of New Deep Sea Fishing policy here at the CM House.

Mr Bosan was assisted by DG Ports and Shipping Asad Rafiq Chandna, Chairman Sea Food Export Association Muslim Mahmoodi while the provincial Minister for Fisheries and Livestock Mohammmad Ali Malkani, Secretary Fisheries and Livestock Dr Nawaz Shaikh, DG Fisheries Dr Ghulam  Mohammad  and advocate general Sindh Zamir Ghumro assisted the chief minister.

Mr Sikandar Hysat Bosan said that constitutionally the provincial government was competent to issue sea fishing licenses upto 12 Nautical Miles (NM) and onward only the federal government has authority, but the federal government was ready to accept Sindh authority upto 20 NM if it allows the Center to regulate licenses.

"We are ready to develop sea resources and invest in the sector which hardly earns $30 million against a potential of $3 billion export," he said. 

The federal government has prepared a draft Deep Sea Fishing Policy for issuance of 50 Licenses for Tuna long Liners, Squid Jigger, Mesopelagic fishing to foreign flagged vessels and 6000 licenses to local fishing vessels.