Healthy fish, healthy gains

Simple fish catch storage improves income of local Pakistan fishers

Location: Karachi, Pakistan. 12th Jun 2015

Fishermen in Rehri village near Karachi have started gaining better value for their fish catch as a result of capacity building in post-harvest fish catch management and receiving modern fish catch handling tools

Thanks to a grant from Mangroves for the Future, 50 fishermen were trained by Pakistan's Marine Fisheries Department (MFD) in modern post-harvest fish catch methods. Quality fish catch storage boxes and crates replaced the old catch handling tools made of rubber or handmade baskets. The use of traditional catch handling tools was a reason behind degraded fish catch quality, resulting in lower returns to the fishermen.

“Previously, whenever we returned late to the landing site due to any reason, the quality of our catch was affected. But now after having these modern tools on our boats our worries have been reduced," narrated Mr Ahmed Ali, a fisherman.

With better post-harvest fish catch management and provision of modern tools, local buyers now offer the fishermen better rates per kilogram than the rates offered to them previously. “Our catch quality is now graded by buyers as ‘A’ and ‘B’, compared to 'C’ and ‘D’ quality before. Due to this, we are now getting PKR 90-125 to PKR 130-250 per kilogram more than before," said Mr Ali.

Moreover, the training certificates awarded by MFD have also had positive impacts on facilitating easy access of beneficiaries to the fishing grounds. “Now that we have training certificates provided by Marine Fisheries Department, the Coast Guards and other security agencies are not stopping us or checking us during fishing," concluded Mr Ali.

 

In Rehri Village, Pakistan, MFF is working with local fishers to improve post-harvest fish catch.

In Rehri Village, Pakistan, MFF is working with local fisher ... , Karachi, Pakistan © MFF Pakistan, 2014

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