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Twenty-one people on board a fishing boat were rescued near Churna Island on Wednesday after a hole in the vessel was causing it to sink.
The Karachi Fish Harbour Authority (KFHA) spokesman told The News that after receiving a distress signal, the authority approached the Maritime Security Agency (MSA), which rescued the crew of Bin Muhammad-II and also salvaged the vessel.
The Pakistan Navy said in a press statement that it mobilised three ships - PNS Shamsheer, PNS Alamgir and PNS Zulfiquar - and two helicopters for the rescue operation.
This was the third boating accident in the last few days as the sea has turned rough and authorities have decided to stop issuing port clearance to larger fishing vessels from June 15.
Earlier, a boat had capsized near Mubarak Village. Its three-member crew managed to swim to the beach, but they lost their vessel.
Before that, a boating accident had occurred near Phitti Creek, where locals had saved the crew and also salvaged the boat.
In the months of May
and June, the MSA had warned fishermen about the high
tide season and also asked
the authorities to stop issuing port clearance to fishing vessels.
The KFHA spokesman said a ban had been imposed on fishing during July as it was the breeding season of marine species and fishermen were allowed to operate their boats in June.
It is quite difficult to convince fishermen that they should stop going out in the open sea because of the rough sea, he added.
However, after the boating accidents, a follow-up meeting with representatives of boat owners, department officials and coastal agencies was held on Tuesday. It was decided that larger boats would not be issued port clearance from June 15 and smaller boats from June 25.
The purpose of this move is to avoid horrible accidents and ensure the implementation of the fishing ban during July, the KFHA spokesman explained.
He said even though it was a high tide season and going out into the open sea was dangerous, the boat owners were reluctant to stop fishing, despite some of them losing their vessels.
The KFHA spokesman said the survivors of the latest boating accident were lucky and they should follow the instructions and cooperate with coastal agencies to avoid such incidents in the future.
Traditionally, fishermen do not take their boats to the rough sea in the months of June and July.
Majeed Motani, an elderly fisherman and captain of a boat, said despite the rough waves this year and opposition by some elders, the government has allowed fishermen to continue operating their boats in June and imposed a ban on fishing from July 1.
The sea has been rough since May and there may be more boating accidents.
Boat owners consider the high tide season an opportunity to make more money as there is more catch as compared to when the sea is calm. They also contradict that the month of July is the fish breeding season.
Navy rescues 21 from sinking boat near Churna Island - thenews.com.pk
The Karachi Fish Harbour Authority (KFHA) spokesman told The News that after receiving a distress signal, the authority approached the Maritime Security Agency (MSA), which rescued the crew of Bin Muhammad-II and also salvaged the vessel.
The Pakistan Navy said in a press statement that it mobilised three ships - PNS Shamsheer, PNS Alamgir and PNS Zulfiquar - and two helicopters for the rescue operation.
This was the third boating accident in the last few days as the sea has turned rough and authorities have decided to stop issuing port clearance to larger fishing vessels from June 15.
Earlier, a boat had capsized near Mubarak Village. Its three-member crew managed to swim to the beach, but they lost their vessel.
Before that, a boating accident had occurred near Phitti Creek, where locals had saved the crew and also salvaged the boat.
In the months of May
and June, the MSA had warned fishermen about the high
tide season and also asked
the authorities to stop issuing port clearance to fishing vessels.
The KFHA spokesman said a ban had been imposed on fishing during July as it was the breeding season of marine species and fishermen were allowed to operate their boats in June.
It is quite difficult to convince fishermen that they should stop going out in the open sea because of the rough sea, he added.
However, after the boating accidents, a follow-up meeting with representatives of boat owners, department officials and coastal agencies was held on Tuesday. It was decided that larger boats would not be issued port clearance from June 15 and smaller boats from June 25.
The purpose of this move is to avoid horrible accidents and ensure the implementation of the fishing ban during July, the KFHA spokesman explained.
He said even though it was a high tide season and going out into the open sea was dangerous, the boat owners were reluctant to stop fishing, despite some of them losing their vessels.
The KFHA spokesman said the survivors of the latest boating accident were lucky and they should follow the instructions and cooperate with coastal agencies to avoid such incidents in the future.
Traditionally, fishermen do not take their boats to the rough sea in the months of June and July.
Majeed Motani, an elderly fisherman and captain of a boat, said despite the rough waves this year and opposition by some elders, the government has allowed fishermen to continue operating their boats in June and imposed a ban on fishing from July 1.
The sea has been rough since May and there may be more boating accidents.
Boat owners consider the high tide season an opportunity to make more money as there is more catch as compared to when the sea is calm. They also contradict that the month of July is the fish breeding season.
Navy rescues 21 from sinking boat near Churna Island - thenews.com.pk
