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Fish ponds to be registered in Sindh

KARACHI: Sindh Minister for Fisheries and Agriculture Iftikhar Soomro has asked the Fisheries Department to take measures for immediate registration of fish ponds in the province and training of their owners and workers on modern techniques, said a handout on Friday.

He was speaking at a meeting during his visit to the government fish hatchery near Chilya in Thatta district. He said local fish production of 112,750 tonnes can be doubled by utilising modern technique.

He said this would not only fulfil local demand for fish but enable its exports to earn foreign exchange.

The minister also directed for taking measures to improve the financial position of fish hatchery and make it a profitable venture for Sindh.

He directed the officials to suggest proposals for improving Sindh Fisheries Ordinance 1980, and make it more effective to prevent poaching of vanishing small fish and fishing during the ban period.

The meeting was told that 200 types of fish were available in Sindh where the production of fish had increased from 75,380 tonnes in 1995, to 112,750 tonnes now.

Similarly, the production of fish at two hatcheries had increased from 8.89 million pieces in 1995 to 11.10 million pieces now.

It was also stated that in 1987 private fish farms were operating in 13 districts and more farms were coming up.

The Secretary, Forest and Wildlife, Shamsul Haq Memon, and director general Livestock and Fisheries, director Fisheries and other official also attended the meeting. APP