Independent Report
By Ramzan Lassi
Sonmiani/Dam Bandar: Small fishermen staged a protest rally at Dam Bandar Jetty in Hub district on Sunday, accusing the trawler and illegal gill-net mafia of destroying their livelihoods. Protesters carrying placards reading “Injustice against small fishermen unacceptable” and “Justice for coastal communities” said trawlers illegally enter within the 12-nautical-mile limit and damage fishing nets and equipment.
Speaking to the media, the fishermen alleged collusion by officials of the Fisheries Department, claiming their repeated complaints have gone unheard for years. They further alleged that when local fishermen raise objections, outsiders on launches resort to intimidation and even throw heavy objects to silence them.
Protest leaders said that despite paying millions of rupees annually in revenue to the provincial government through the Fisheries Department, small fishermen continue to face losses and harassment. They warned that if their lawful fishing rights and livelihoods are not protected, they will be forced to stage road sit-ins, holding the Fisheries Department and the provincial government responsible for any fallout. The protest concluded peacefully.
