"There is a firm anticipation over further decline in seafood export for next few months," said a leading seafood processor, Akhlaq Hussain Abedi, adding that the high cost of fish catch pulled down its landing, severely. Pakistan exported seafood amounting to $98.697 million during July-October period of the current fiscal year as compared to the export of $97.131 million in the same period of last fiscal year, depicting a slight increase of 2 percent or $1.566 million, Pakistan Bureau of Statistics said.
"Fuel prices are too high for the local fishermen to sail for catch," said Abedi, adding that the return on the costly catch is highly low. "In such unfavourable circumstances, fishermen will never move off the coast," he viewed. "There is no subsidy on fuel for fishermen whose catch fetches huge foreign exchange to the country," said Director Fishermen Co-operative Society (FCS), Asif Bhatti, adding that "65 percent of boats are moored at coast".
About 350 Hela and 450 Hora boats are anchored at shoreline of Keamari because of the high fuel price, he said, adding that "diesel which runs vessels is available for Rs 114 per litre at harbour while in the city it is selling at Rs 111." Abedi said fish in winter tend to move away into deep sea, as a result their stocks decline in shallow water, which forces the fishermen toil into prolonging their voyage period while catch pays off low return. "Such a discouraging trend forces them to stay ashore till the situation improves," he added.
"Usually, exporters expect a rebound in fish landing after Ashura but this year still there is no signs of improvement in catch," he pointed out, saying that there are a large number of boats still fastened at harbour, which may not resume sailing till March next year. On the global market, there is also a decline in prices of winter commercial catch including cuttlefish and squid fish, he said, adding that "price for cuttlefish is offered $3.5 per kg which had last year reached $5.25. Similarly, squid is selling for $2.7 per kg down from $3.5."