Fishermen of the Kapar area of coastal Pasni, in Balochistan’s Gwadar district, have announced the closure of the sea in protest against illegal fishing with banned nets and searchlights by some people from Sarbandar, and against serious threats they received for opposing it.
Addressing a crowded press conference at the Pasni Press Club led by Rashid Baloch, the Kapar fishermen said that some fishermen from Sarbandar, backed by a political party, come into Kapar’s waters every day and fish using banned methods, seriously harming the livelihood of local fishermen.
During the press conference, Rashid Baloch and other fishermen leaders explained that, through mutual consultation, the fishermen of Gwadar district have set some traditional rules to protect marine resources and maintain order—including a ban on fishing on Fridays, avoiding fishing at night and a complete prohibition on the use of searchlights.
They said some Sarbandar fishermen are violating all these agreed rules. The ‘Sarbandar Fishermen Alliance’ was formally informed about this, but there has been no effective progress.
The fishermen leaders revealed that on the night of 24 October, when the opposing side entered the Kapar sea with banned nets, tension arose when they were stopped. The opposing side tried to attack, after which local fishermen confiscated the banned nets.
They said that since the incident, Kapar fishermen have been threatened that they will be attacked with 40 to 50 speedboats. In addition, there are open threats to damage and destroy about 70 speedboats belonging to Kapar fishermen, worth tens of millions of rupees, that are moored at Sarbandar.
The Kapar fishermen made clear that they are peaceful citizens and have no objection to any fisherman who fishes legally, but thuggery and the destruction of marine resources under the cover of political backing will not be tolerated.
They demanded that the Deputy Commissioner of Gwadar, the fisheries department, the police and other relevant institutions immediately ban the use of prohibited nets and searchlights in the Kapar sea; hold an impartial investigation without delay into the alleged threats to damage boats worth tens of millions of rupees and to kill people; ensure the protection of nearly 70 speedboats and other assets of Kapar fishermen at Sarbandar; and immediately defuse the tension between the two sides and guarantee that fishermen can earn their living without fear.
