Pakistan divides its sea into three regions, with Zone 3 (which ranges from 20 to 200 nautical miles. the boundary of the country’s exclusive economic zone. as defined by the United Nations Convention. on the Law of the Sea) administered by the central government. The area less than 12 nautical miles from the coast (Zone 1). It is an administrative division of Sindh. and Baluchistan, with 12-20 nautical miles declared a buffer zone for Gwadar fishermen.
Fisheries management
They fish anytime, anywhere. Gwadar fishermen have weapons. If we see them, we shout to protest their activism.” If our ships come close, they will open fire.” Sayad Gwadar. A net brings us thousands of rupees, along with a huge net that drags everything along.”They own the ocean. We are powerless. Fisheries management and government are also letting us down. “As well as international treaties and local laws. The Fisheries Act has not been fully implemented. We have been helping people involved in poaching for many years.
Fishing vessels carrying fish
Sometimes this issue raises controversy among local residents. It ended in protests, as a result of which the agency banned the use of fishing vessels for a certain period of time. he eventually returned to the status quo and normal life continued. For example, in June 2021. government authorities detained several Chinese fishing vessels carrying fish in Gwadar. After local Gwadar fishermen and political officials also protested against the government. which granted Chinese fishing vessels fishing rights. by giving them fishing permits in Gwadar.
Several fishing boats
Illegal trawlers in Sindh are violating the state’s jurisdiction every day. More recently, Maulana Hidayat ur Rahman created the Haq-e-Tahreq or the Gwadar fishermen Rights Movement. This included a month-long sit-in near the port of Gwadar. and a series of protests, including a sit-in witnessed by a female protester on 29 November. Pressure to force the government to take some action. The rights movement has spoken out on many other issues, but poaching is one of its biggest concerns. As a result, government officials have called for a ban on Chinese fishing vessels. and those from neighboring Sindh province. In February this year. several fishing boats arrested in Sindh.
Pakistan’s busiest port
But in response Gwadar fishermen. and trawlers from Sindh province blocked. the main waterway of Port Bin Qasim in Karachi for 34 hours, halting traffic. from Pakistan’s busiest port. This forced the government to agree to their demands, and the illegal activity was back on track. “Although the government took some measures against them after the movement. and the protests, nothing has changed,” said Nohuda Ghulam Nabi. a veteran Jewani fisherman and local fishing boat owner. within 12 nautical miles at night.”Seen..as soon as sunrise Sun, they sailed from this area. “They haven’t stopped hunting here.”
Illegal activities at sea
The Baluchistan Fisheries Department, Coast Guard Navy. and many other authorities tasked with protecting the oceans. reporting and addressing illegal activities at sea. Legally we at the Fisheries Department have the authority. to report any illegal activity within our jurisdiction. and even take action through patrol units. The law gives us permission, but our government and dignitaries don’t. But we can’t do anything about it. I’m involved.” I asked why I intervened when the leaders of the fishermen’s associations sided. with the fishermen during the protests. “They own fish factories in Gwadar and other places. the officer said, at a very low rate.
Fisherman’s rights
And so the factory owners. who happen to be leaders in fisherman’s rights. make money off this mafia, but the poor fishermen see them as their defenders. If the world’s politicians really don’t want this to end, it never ends. In a way, the rights movement has shed light on this issue. but speaking to fishermen and journalists in Pasni. I found that there was a division among local Gwadar fishermen One group supports Maulana Hidayat ur Rehman, the other does not. Basni journalist Sajid Noor explains. There are many fishermen associated with Haq du Tahrik in Mevlana. They form an alliance to stop other hunters in Pasni from hunting at night. This encourages the Mafia Trawler to plunder more seas.
Rampant illegal fishing.
“We still don’t know why Mawlana’s party does not allow fishermen to fish at night. when there are no laws preventing them,” Noor added. Most of the fishermen here are facing an unprecedented economic crisis. and there is nothing they can do. “Poaching is a pressing environmental, economic and security concern. that is not being adequately addressed. The recent movement which started in Gwadar. has highlighted many issues, including illegal hunting. but some of its policies and actions have been controversial recently especially in Pasni. But it’s not just the activists who are being questioned. State and federal governments have the legal power. to choose to enforce coastal law, save oceans, and free people from economic crises. Or we can allow the coast to suffer from rampant illegal fishing.
Also read: Gwadar today
