Seafood export grew by 18 percent, in term of value, in July-September of fiscal year 2018 from $64.066 million in the same period last fiscal year, Pakistan Bureau of Statistics says. "Shrimp landing continues though its pace has declined," President, Sindh Trawlers Owners and Fishermen Association, Habibullah Khan Niazi said.
The country's fisheries export volume surged from 21,959 metric tons in July-September of fiscal year 2017. In September 2017, fisheries export scaled up by 16 percent or $5.517 million to $40.097 from $34.580 million in August 2016. Fisheries export quantity also surged by 25.03 percent or 2966 metric tons to 14, 818 metric tons in September 2017 from 11,852 metric tons in September 2016.
"Squid and cuttlefish are the prominent fish species with ribbon fish which landing continues in October as well," Habibullah Niazi said, adding that mixed fish species are also being brought to the harbor regularly. Kiddi is making a good share of the total shrimp landing ahead of winter season. Red snapper and some other fish species locally called maya are also landing, he observed.
"Even the crewmen are making good amount since fisheries are booming in the current season. Last seasons were lean for the fishermen from non-imposition of ban during June and July in the past years," he said, adding that the government's control on the creeks fishing is limited which should be increased to end use of lethal nets shrimp hunting.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2017