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Fishermen advised to upgrade boats, trawlers by May 31

KARACHI: The Karachi Fisheries Harbour Authority (KFHA) Chairman, Commodore Tayyab Naqvi has advised the owners of the fishing boats, trawlers to bring their fishing vessels in accordance with the minimum international hygienic standards of the European Union before May 31, 2000.

The chairman has directed all the fishing boats and trawlers owners to modify and upgrade their crafts by using glass reinforced plastic (GRP) instead of existing galvanised sheets, plastic fish gratos. They must have life jackets, transistor radio and two-way communication system on board of each boat and trawler.

Naqvi further assured that all fishermen would be insured by the Fisherman's Cooperative Society (FCS) for which premium will be paid by the society.

The chairman further said the proper training would be imparted to the fisherman for handling catch and its preservation on modern lines at Fisheries Training Centre.

The training course would be conducted by the Marine Fisheries Department (MFD) and in future crew cards would be issued on the basis of certificates issued to the fishermen by the MFD, the chairman added. APP