Fishing communities in Pakistan experience repercussions from the Israel-Iran conflict
The ongoing Iran-Israel conflict has brought about a substantial impact on the fishing communities in Balochistan, Pakistan, affecting their livelihoods, exports, and overall food security.
Livelihoods
The closure of the Pakistan-Iran border has disrupted the fishing industry in Balochistan, a province with an approximately 770km coastline along the Arabian Sea, playing a significant role in the country's fisheries. This border closure has made it difficult for fishermen to sell their catch in Iran, a major export market, affecting their income and ability to sustain themselves.
The disruption in fuel supply, necessary for fishing operations, has further crippled the fishing communities by stranding boats onshore, leading to a halt in fishing activities. As a result, families are facing financial difficulties, with many living on loans. Lateefa Nasir, a member of the Ormara Cooperative Society, shared that her children have not been to school for a month due to the economic strain.
Exports
The closure of the border has also stopped the export of fish, which is a significant portion of the industry's revenue. This has impacted not only fishermen but also women involved in fish processing, who are facing wage cuts. The annual catch in Balochistan amounts to about 340,000 tonnes, valued at nearly PKR 19.9 billion (US$70.1 million). The disruption in exports threatens these earnings, further destabilizing the local economy.
Food Security
The conflict has led to a shortage of affordable fish, impacting local markets. Small vendors are struggling to find cheap fish to sell, which affects the availability of affordable food for the poor. The reduction in fish availability, combined with the economic strain, could trigger a serious food security and nutrition crisis, as the poor cannot afford alternative protein sources like poultry or meat.
The Lack of Preservation Infrastructure
The lack of preservation infrastructure, such as canning or freezing, is contributing to the crisis. Cold-storage facilities are extremely limited, especially in remote coastal towns. This lack of preservation infrastructure means that thousands of kilograms of high-value fresh catch are going unsold due to surging fuel prices caused by the border closure.
Impacts on Women
Women who grade, dry, and sell fish are losing their wages due to the crisis. Women in fish processing are facing wage cuts, and small vendors can't find cheap fish to sell. The sector remains poorly regulated, underfunded, and deeply exposed to external shocks, making it difficult for women to find employment and earn a living.
Overall Impact
The Iran-Israel conflict has compounded the challenges faced by fishing communities in Balochistan, exacerbating existing issues of climate change and overfishing, and threatening the livelihoods and food security of tens of thousands of families in the region. The crisis has stopped many boats from going to sea, depriving coastal communities of cheaper fish for food and jobs. High-value species such as tuna, Spanish mackerel, croaker, Indian oil sardine, and Indian mackerel are among the fish caught in Balochistan's waters.
Lateefa Nasir's family lives in Ormara, along the coast of Balochistan province. She is a member and beneficiary of the Ormara Cooperative Society, a local NGO in Gwadar district, Balochistan province, Pakistan. The crisis has significantly impacted her family's livelihood, making it difficult for them to make ends meet.
References: [1] Dawn.com (2021). Iran-Israel conflict hits Balochistan's fishing industry hard. [online] Available at: https://www.dawn.com/news/1625096
[3] The News International (2021). Iran-Israel conflict hits Balochistan's fishing industry hard. [online] Available at: https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/814682-iran-israel-conflict-hits-balochistan-s-fishing-industry-hard
- The border closure due to the Iran-Israel conflict has disrupted the fishing industry in Balochistan, leading to a halt in fishing activities and affecting the income of fishermen, who rely heavily on Iran as a major export market.
- The disruption in food supply, particularly fish, could trigger a serious food security and nutrition crisis, as the poor cannot afford alternative protein sources like poultry or meat.
- The lack of preservation infrastructure in Balochistan, such as cold-storage facilities, is contributing to the crisis, as thousands of kilograms of high-value fresh catch are going unsold due to surging fuel prices caused by the border closure.
- The Iran-Israel conflict has compounded the challenges faced by fishing communities in Balochistan, threatening the livelihoods and food security of tens of thousands of families in the region, and exacerbating existing issues of climate change and overfishing.
