Missing Meer Bahars

The story of 14 missing fishermen near Thatta, Sindh, made headlines in early March this year. They were part of a 45-member crew that had gone on a fishing expedition, and their unlucky boat capsized, and they were feared dead. The bodies of four of these 14 fishermen were eventually found until the search for them was called off.

Now and then, the fishing community faces such disasters, due to which they capture the headlines. Eventually, the news fades away, leaving the community entangled in a vicious circle of poverty, despair, and desolation. The current precarious situation was not always the case for the fishing community, and once they enjoyed a glorified status of ‘Meer Bahars,’ or the ‘Commanders of the Sea.’ So the question arises: What went wrong, and how did this indigenous community fall prey to poverty, neglect, and hardships? Some would attribute their current condition to climate change and its impact. But is nature the sole culprit? Or is it an offender at all?

Many islands surround Karachi, but little do people know about them or their inhabitants. We often hear that Karachi started as a fishing village and was established by a fisherwoman, Mai Kolachi. However, little is touched upon when and how this community lost its vitality. Even more surprising is the fact that the locals of Karachi do not know the vital role played by women within these fishing communities and how there has been a loss of their agency and economic status over time.

Speaking to members of the fisherfolk community, it was discovered that traditionally, women played a vital role in every fishing expedition. They would weave the fishing nets, help catch and clean the fish, shell the shrimps, and help sort and store the fish. However, with mechanized boats and the possibility of refrigeration, much of their contribution is no longer needed. About 50 percent of the women previously engaged in the fishing industry have lost their source of income to technological development. The impact of climate change and the associated loss in the quantity of fish has also directly impacted the role of fisherwomen within the industry.

The fishermen community members also narrated that sea navigation and ways to predict weather patterns were part of the knowledge passed down to children by the elders in fishing communities, as they took them along for fishing in the open waters. Learning to swim for men and women was an intrinsic part of their culture and upbringing. Sitting by the shore, the elders would watch the youngsters as the latter learned to swim in the open waters. Some segregation would be put up where young women learned swimming and elderly women of the community watched over these girls.

Unfortunately, the polluted waters are now unfit for swimming, and the skill of swimming has largely been lost. Another knowledge out of reach for the community is the ability to predict changing weather conditions for fishermen and fisherwomen. This is partially because of the increasing dependency on technical devices and partially because of unpredictable weather patterns caused by climate change.

The Indus Delta, the fifth largest delta system in the world, lies to the east of Karachi Region and starts on its outskirts. It can be said that it forms the greater Karachi region, too. According to Majeed Motani, a member of the fisherfolk community residing in Ibrahim Hyderi, historically, 17 creeks together made up the Indus Delta. With the Partition of the subcontinent, four of these creeks went to India, and the rest became part of Pakistani soil. Until the 1960s, the Indus River and its delta had water present all year round.

Traditionally, three separate professions were practiced by people who worked and depended on the Indus Delta: fishermen, farmers, and livestock keepers. The barter system was common and prevalent in the region. Fishing communities have traditionally been very mobile, moving around in the sea and shifting houses. According to official sources, the Indus Delta covers an area of 210 kilometers before it meets the Arabian Sea in the south.