2. FISHING AND FISHERMEN
Fishing is the profession which includes any industry or activity
concerned with culturing, processing, preserving, storing,
transporting, marketing or selling fish or its products.
It is a form of occupation engaged by persons called fishermen.
This occupation is carried out in all the seashores.
3. FISHERMEN COMMUNITY
The group of people that is substantially dependent and engaged in the
harvesting and processing of fishery resources to meet social and economic
needs.
Estimated 59.5 millions people engaged with fisheries, globally.
20.5 million people are employed in aquaculture and 39.0 million in fisheries
Small scale fisheries contributes about 50% in global fish catch and supplies
food for local and global markets. It plays major role in social and economic
benefits to communities. 1
4. Illiteracy,
population pressure,
low economic status
and river pollution
are the main problems towards Socio economic development for the
fishermen community.
Most of them are illiterate and their children have to detach from
school as they live from hand to mouth.
5. Ambili, C.S (2008) had defined that fisherman is a person who
engaged mainly in fishing and related activities for their livelihood.
Their occupational outcome resulted in supply of fishes used for
human consumption, bait and for other uses.
This community has distinctive characteristics, geographically
located in coastal areas and has their own way of life and culture,
and share with the sea and the environment.
6. FISHERMEN… SOCIOECONOMICALLY
THE VULNERABLE COMMUNITY
Vulnerability is a state of being exposed to the risk, the possibility of
being attacked or harmed, either physically or emotionally by certain
factors.
Vulnerability of fishermen community deals with:
Fishery-based livelihoods
Climate variability
Livelihoods can in turn be defined as ‘‘the capabilities, assets (stores,
resources, claims, and access), and activities required for a means of
living.
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7. SETTLEMENT OF FISHERMEN COMMUNITY IN
PAKISTAN
1. Marine Fishermen Community :
Coastline of SIND (372Km) and
BALOCHISTAN (772Km).
500,000 people engaged with the fisheries.
Settlement area: Mangroves & Estuaries.
Marine capture fisheries 360000 tons of fish
which is 73 % of capture production. 3
8. 4
2. Inland Fishermen Community
400,000 Fishermen And Their Families
Are Dependent On The Inland Fisheries
For Their Livelihood.
Capture Fisheries Produced About
130000 Tons Fish, 27% Of Pakistan’s
Total Capture Production.
Main Area Of Settlement At Rivers,
Canals And Reservoirs.
9. FACTORS AFFECTING SOCIOECONOMIC
CONDITIONS OF FISHERMEN COMMUNITY
Environment
Pollution is the major environmental issue.
The industries discharge effluents in inland and coastal waters.
Untreated sewage water enter in river, canal and ocean.
The clearance of mangroves for buildings is another source of
environmental degradation as mangroves are breeding site of fishes.
Environmental degradation results in fish catch losses which interns affects
fishermen community. 5
11. Education and Health
Low literacy rate i.e. 09.90 %
Prevalence of disease and susceptible to chronic
infection such as diarrhea and complication in
maternity.
Occurrence of acute and chronic disease caused by
heavy metal i.e. mercury is 21% and 10%
respectively.
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12. Marketing
Small-scale fishing communities are increasingly connected to seafood
trade via local market.
These connectedness impacts local fishery systems, both socially and
ecologically
Market prices are a potential mechanism which effect fishermen
community due to
Price fluctuations
Complex market system
Informal credit system
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13. Infrastructure
Poor living conditions
Lack of basic facilities like electricity,
gas, roads, transport, sanitation,
toilets etc.
Poor hygienic food and water.
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14. Worn-out Jetties
A landing stage or small pier at
which boats can dock or be
moored.
The fishermen face difficulties to
unload the fish at jetties.
Jetties are worn-out causing
deterioration in fish quality.
Decrease in price value. 10
15. Lack Of Modern Fishing
Implements
Fishermen community uses
traditional implements for fishing
due to which
High labour
Low catches
Less income
Post harvest losses
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16. Hunger Cause
Overexploitation
Due to hunger the fishermen start
illegal fishing.
To meet their economic and food
needs.
If this continues, there’ll be no fish
left by 2050.
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17. Challenges Being Faced By Fishermen Community:
Lack of better management practices.
Inadequate technical services to Fishermen.
Traditional methodology.
Postharvest mismanagement.
Absence of mobility of labor to other sector
Poor access to market and extension services.
Unhygienic Health facilities and high illiteracy rate.
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18. Con…
Improper Fisheries policies
Less interest of private sector.
Rampant under-employment
Low per capita earnings
Indebtedness
Seasonal income
Lack of coordination among institution i.e.
Govt., non-Govt. organizations and community. 14
19. PROPOSALS FOR IMPROVEMENT OF
FISHERMEN COMMUNITY
Provide extension and financial support (grants or small loans) for
households to diversify income through homestead aquaculture.
Community based coastal management.
Co-management of natural resources brings govt. and local
communities together to collaboratively provide management and
enforcement.
Provision of subsidized implements and tenurial.
Conservation of remaining mangroves by friendly aquaculture.
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20. Con…
Baseline survey to collect data and provide training facilities to
youth to earn their livelihood.
Empower fisheries communities to develop their own management
plan (community based natural resources management).
Provision of schools in rural areas to enhance the literacy rate.
Provision of health and infrastructure facilities.
Guideline and weather information for fishermen through
broadcasting services.
Govt. should initiate the rural cooperative markets.
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