Chairman of the Gwadar Civil Society, Muhammad Jan Baloch, raised alarms about the unchecked trawling activities in the Arabian Sea, locally termed the ‘Baloch Sea,’ particularly along the Gwadar coast. He highlighted that the stretch from Oramara to Jiwani is swarming with trawlers from Sindh, which are depleting marine life by fishing in massive volumes.
According to Muhammad Jan Baloch, the fisheries department of Balochistan and other relevant bodies remain passive observers of this exploitation of the ‘Baloch Sea.’ The result of such trawling practices has led to a significant decrease in fish populations.
He pointed out that trawlers, once operating under the cover of darkness, are now brazenly deploying their nets and gear during daylight hours, further encouraged by the inaction of authorities. This has not only intensified the strain on fish stocks but has also resulted in the destruction of local fishermen’s equipment, inflicting financial losses in the hundreds of thousands, he said.
The civil society leader emphasized that the indigenous fishermen of Gwadar, who have lived along Balochistan’s coasts for centuries, are the rightful stewards of the ‘Baloch Sea.’ These fishermen, whose livelihoods barely suffice to provide for their families, are now facing an existential threat, he said.
He warned that if immediate action is not taken to halt the trawler operations, the Gwadar Civil Society, in solidarity with the local fishermen, will launch a substantial protest.