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Disclaimer note - WWF - Pakistan

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Detailed Ecological Assessment Report 2008 – Keenjhar Lake<br />

• Increase in pollution and environmental degradation: Excessive<br />

pollution from Industries and agriculture is proving disastrous for the<br />

environmental life of this environmentally precious region. According to<br />

reports more than 2500 cusecs of left bank out fall drain (LBOD) effluent<br />

comprising poisonous pesticides residues are thrown in the Indus delta<br />

daily. Besides about 300 million gallons, urban sewerage from urban<br />

areas and about 37,000 tons of industrial waste are drained into coastal<br />

waters. This pollution is affecting marine life and ecosystem very badly.<br />

Fishing grounds coastal areas have been badly affected by industrial and<br />

urban pollution.<br />

• Lack of infrastructure: Lack of suitable infrastructure one of the key<br />

constraints to the development of the fisheries and aquaculture sectors of<br />

the country. In the context of capture marine fisheries, no landing facilities<br />

are available at major fishing centers such Keti Bunder. Similarly, road<br />

linkages are insufficient and of poor quality. Other infrastructure facilities<br />

such as communication, educational and medical facilities still lack in Keti<br />

Bunder area. Problems faced for the transformation of products from<br />

aquaculture are similar. Lack of proper freezing facilities is another<br />

obstacle in increasing the shelf-life of fish.<br />

• Post harvest losses: Post-harvest loss owing to poor handling practices,<br />

and a lack of preservation facilities on board fishing vessels and at landing<br />

centers, is some of the most important factors which result in the poor<br />

quality of raw material for processing and consumption. It is estimated that<br />

about 70 % of the harvested seafood becomes degraded or even<br />

putrefied before it reaches consumers or processing facilities.<br />

Opportunities to produce fish meal are missed as almost all by-catch from<br />

trawl fisheries is left to decompose. A similar situation prevails in the preprocessing<br />

industry where shrimps are peeled under extreme unhygienic<br />

conditions.<br />

3.5.7.2 Recommendations<br />

• Mitigating reduced flow of Indus River: which should ensure that<br />

aquaculture is closely linked to plans for investment in irrigation, irrigated<br />

agriculture and related infrastructures; establish a joint Committee<br />

composed of representatives of all Ministries dealing directly and indirectly<br />

with freshwater use, jointly engage in discussions and planning with other<br />

Ministries on priority uses, protection, sustainable development and<br />

increased productivity of freshwater resources, establish strong<br />

collaborative partnerships and processes to increase water flows in Indus<br />

River and tributaries and re-establish balanced water regimes/use,<br />

formulate policies concerning the reclamation and rehabilitation of areas<br />

affected by salinity, Monitor the impact of water diversions on habitats and<br />

livelihoods, and develop guidelines for the mitigation of negative impacts,<br />

support literacy, vocational training arid other educational programs in<br />

fishing communities; Support alternative and/or complementary livelihood<br />

activities in fishing communities through increasing access to credit and<br />

savings schemes and the provision of micro-finance initiatives. Activities<br />

should also ensure the participation of women and benefits from their<br />

involvement, in aquaculture, post-harvest and other livelihood activities,<br />

advocate for the allocation of marginal land for agricultural use to fishing<br />

communities who are affected by water diversion/limited release of water<br />

<strong>WWF</strong> <strong>Pakistan</strong> – Indus for All Programme Page 78 of 188

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