illegal-fishing_optSTAFF REPORT KHI: The illegal use of non-prescribed nets for purposes in the sea will further rise in future as the Karachi Fish Harbour Authority (KFHA) has virtually scrapped its drive against this illegal activity, sources disclosed.

According to the stakeholders of the fisheries sector, there have been no new directives from the KFHA asking the boat owners or fishermen to discard the use of illegal fishing nets.

The authority had set a deadline of January 1, 2013 for fishermen and boat owners to equip their vessels with the officially approved nets for deep sea and creek fishing. There have been a number of date extensions to provide an ample time to the stakeholders to arrange the nets, but none showed interest in this regard, the sources said.

While on the side, the fishermen have also rejected the new fishing nets size which the KFHA and all stakeholders had approved. Similarly, the boat owners gave a dull response to the authoritys plan and never went for acquiring the new nets, sources said.

The continued use of illegal nets has led to depletion in fisheries resources in the countrys waters for the last several years as there has been no policy undertaken by the government and its subsidiary departments to protect the marine environment through implementation of rules, sources said.

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