Sindhi is bestowed with naturally rich fishing waters. According to government estimates there are 1209 fishing waters in whole of Sindhi. Millions of fisherfolk draw their livelihood from these fishing grounds, including inland lakes,ponds,depressions and river Indus.

The fisherfolk communities of Sindhi had been fishing freely from these waters to earn their livelihood. However, with the objectives of regulating the fishing activities and registering the indigenous fisherfolk Government of Sindhi introduced 'License System' in 1977 on major fishing grounds of Sindhi. Under this system, the indigenous fisherfolk were registered with provincial Fisheries Department and later the Fishing License were issued to them against the payment of license fees. Those possessing such license were allowed to fish in the fishing grounds independently.

Afterwards, The Sindhi Fisheries Act 1980 gave legal status to license system. Section 3(1) of said ordinance reads,"Government may, by general or special order, grant license or lease for fishing in any public waters on such terms and conditions and on payment of such fees as may be prescribed."

However, few years ago the Sindh government introduced another exploitative system in fisheries i.e. Contract or Auction system. Under this system, instead of issuing fishing licenses to the fisherfolk, the fishing waters were auctioned to influential contractors allowing them to carry out fishing through the fisherfolk.

Initially this system was introduced on few fishing waters but gradually more and more fishing waters were brought under this system. This year government started the process of completely wiping out license system and imposing the Contract system on all fresh water fishing grounds of Sindhi.

Negative impact of Contract system and Fisherfolk Struggle :
The fisherfolk community of Sindhi led by their representative organization Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum [PFF] is continuing the struggle against the imposition of this Contract system. PFF is continuing its struggle against contract system since last two years. In this connection PFF is mobilizing and organizing the fisherfolk communities.

As Sindhi government announced a detailed schedule of auctioning fishing grounds in all districts of Sindhi early this month, the fisherfolk community, PFF political parties and civil society organizations decided to protest against such acts on the spot. In this connection on May 16, 2005 the fishing grounds of Hyderabad district were being auctioned. Hundreds of fisherfolk including men, women and children with their supporters from larger society held a peaceful protest rally against the auction.

After the rally, police arrested Mohammed Ali Shah, the Chairperson of PFF, with four of his colleagues - Sami Memon, Jamal Mustafa Shoro, Allah Dhino and Mohammed Mallah. Police registered cases against them and they were locked up. Despite their bail in said cases on May 20 2005 by Session courts, Hyderabad, they were not released and were sent to Jail under Maintenance of Public Order [MPO].

The arrest of PFF leadership further accelerated the struggle of fisherfolk community against the contract system. As a result, Sindhi government was compelled to withdraw MPO and release the jailed leadership last week. The protest against the imposition of contract system continues.

Fisherfolk Demands
* Contract system should be abolished. License system should be implemented on all the fresh water fishing grounds. Sindhi government, as per its commitment, should introduce Fishermen Cooperative Societies System on the fishing grounds of Badin District.
* Even if the license system is introduced there is a fear that the influential people, who have been exploiting the fishing resources would not allow the fisherfolk to fish independently. Therefore, the government should make adequate arrangements for the protection of fisherfolk.

* The government should bring illegal occupying of fishing waters to an end and take severe action against the people occupying fishing grounds.

-article by Aslam Khawja, journalist, Karachi

Related Articles:
Lahore Marathon for Civil Liberties
Agricultural Crisis in Punjab
Police Attacks Right to Employment Campaign
Who Gains from a Tsunami?