Fishing in Pakistan
Encyclopedia
Fishery
and fishing industry
plays a significant part in the national economy of Pakistan
. With a coastline of about 814 km, Pakistan has enough fishery resources that remain to be developed. Most of the population of the coastal areas of Sindh
and Balochistan
depends on fisheries for livelihood. It is also a major source of export earning.
Fishing industry is the managed by the Fisheries Development Commissioner (FDC) under the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock (MFAL) of Government of Pakistan
. The office of the FDC is responsible for policy, planning and coordination with provincial fisheries departments and other national and international agencies such as Asia-Pacific Fishery Commission. The marine subsector is overlooked by Marine Fisheries Department
(MFD). The Pakistan Agricultural Research Council
(PARC) is engaged in the research of the industry. Some universities in the country are also involved in basic fisheries research.
species, 15 medium-sized pelagic species and 20 large pelagic fish species. In addition, there are also 15 commercial species of shrimp
, 12 of cephalopod
s and 5 of lobster
. The effect of the Indus River Delta
on the marine resources of the coastline of Sindh is substantial, as this river system has been transporting enormous quantities of nutrients and sediment to the continental shelf for centuries. Pakistan has an extensive inland water areas system which is mainly dominated by the Indus River
. These water bodies, depending on their type, possess varying potential for development of the inland and aquaculture subsectors. Inland water bodies, like dams, water locks, reservoirs, rivers, lakes and ponds cover an area of approximately 8 million hectares.
among 12 other. Surveys in the Arabian Sea
indicate that commercial species of crustaceans like shrimps and lobsters are overexploited. Crabs, cephalopods and other molluscs are an unconventional resource. However, there is a potential in the export market as a substitute for these. Demersal fish resources show signs of being exploited, hence only limited expansion of catch is possible in future. There may be a possibility of expanding the catch the small pelagic fish resources by venturing further offshore. It is very much likely that the fishermen would have to consider using new fishing methods in order to achieve this. As for the larger variety of pelagic fish, especially Skipjack tuna
and its relatives, are available in the Exclusive Economic Zone
of Pakistan in the Karachi District. Fishing for these usually result in by-catches of marlin
and shark species. Local fishing fleet commonly harvests the species of Frigate mackerel, Indian mackerel
, Spanish mackerel
, barracuda
and dolphinfish. The production figures of 2006 showed overexploitation relative to maximum sustainable yield
level. A large variety of mesopelagic fish exist just off the continental shelf and are barely exploited. These resources are prime candidates for conversion to fishmeal for use in poultry and aquaculture but no commercial use is available in the country. Mussels, oysters, clams, seaweed, kelp, sea urchins and other marine resources also exist in Pakistan but further research data is required in order to evaluate the feasibility of propagating the mariculture of these varieties.
area of 50,270 km2 and coastline length of 1,120 km. The total maritime zone of Pakistan is over 30 percent of the land area. The coastal belt is characterized by a meshwork of estuaries and creeks with mangrove
forestry that serve as nursery grounds for species of finfish and shellfish
. In 1958, the first modern fish harbour was constructed at the Karachi District. Later, the fleet expanded and is now mostly mechanized.
Karachi Fish Harbour
is the biggest and oldest of its kind in Pakistan, being used by all types of fishing boats. Currently more than 4,000 fishing craft are based in it. At present, it can be assumed that the harbour caters for the needs of near 75 percent of the local fleet.
The major fish harbours of Pakistan are:
The shrimp
fishery is very meaningful because of foreign exchange earned and employment produced from it. It is only permitted in province of Sindh. Commercial shrimp trawling started in 1958, after the MFD
introduced mechanization of larger fishing vessels. Now almost all of the shrimp trawlers are equipped with winches for net hauling. However, shrimp can also be caught by the use of cast net
, which is locally termed 'thukri'. The catching is mainly carried out in shallow depths from October to March. It is also caught in eustaries and brackish waters from July to September. The catch is then processed frozen
for the objective of exporting to North American and European Union markets.
Tuna fishery
The fishing of tuna
varieties is another appreciable aspect of the industry that is carried out by artisanal fishing
vessels. Usually, the fleet shoot the gillnet
s in the evening and fetch them the next morning. The main target are the pelagic species with higher commercial values. The catch is exported as chilled to neighbouring country of Iran
through informal channels for canning purposes. This fetches more profit than if exported to Sri Lanka
in dried and salted
form.
Benthic fishery
The deep sea resources remain comparatively unexploited because local vessels are neither suitable nor equipped for deep-water fishery. The idea has motivated entrepreneurs to augment their deep-sea fishing craft for use of the resources. Small-scale benthic or demersal fishery is most common in coastal inshore waters. Fishermen use nylon gillnet
, locally termed 'ruch', with a mesh of about 150 mm long. Benthic varieties include the marine jewfish
, croaker
s, grunters, snapper
s, grouper
s, ribbonfish
and pomfret
s.
Pelagic fishery
A small-scale pelagic fish
ery is in operation in Sindh, using special nets, locally termed 'katra'. Fishing is carried out from 'hora' boats - wooden sailboats with pointed ends, a broad breadth and long-shaft outboard engine. In depths shallower than 20 m, shoals of clupeids, especially the Indian Oil Sardine
, are usually intended. Such operations are mainly based at Ibrahim Hydri and Chashma Goth villages. The desirable months are from October to November and February to April. The catch is the prime candidate for conversion into fishmeal.
and its tributaries. The fish fauna of the Indus system in its northern part is cold-water type, while the greater middle and southern parts of the system are warm-water zones. Fisheries in rivers and reservoirs account for more than 80 percent of total inland fish production. The riverine fishery management system is operated mainly by provincial fisheries departments. They enforce regulatory laws that restrict catch by size of fish and establish closed seasons.
alone there are more than 100 natural lakes of different sizes covering an area of about 100,000 ha. Among them Haleji lake
(1,800 ha), Kinjhar Lake (12,000 ha) and Manchar lake (16,000 ha) are quite important for fish production. Manchar alone supports 2,000 fishing families. Apart from these big lakes, a cluster of small lakes extend over 40,000 ha. The natural lakes in Punjab cover about 7,000 ha. Some of the lakes, such as Namal lake
(480 ha), Uchhali lake
(943 ha), Jahlar lake (100 ha), Kallar Kahar
(100 ha), Kharal lake (235 ha) and Khabikki lake
(283 ha) are brackish and are too saline to support aquaculture.
(or fish farming) is new in Pakistan. However, there is immense potential for development of the sector. Aquaculture production has rapidly increased since 2000 from around 10-15 thousands tonnes to reach over 100,000 tonnes in 2006 and 2007. Despite its vast fresh, brackish and marine water resources only carp
culture is practiced in ponds. In Pakistan, the fish fauna is rich but only seven warm water species and two cold water species are cultivated on a commercial scale. Aquaculture has also received a substantial amount of government investment, and facilities are now in place that can provide the basis for a major future expansion. With the exception of trout culture in the northern regions, virtually all aquaculture consists of pond culture of various carp species.
, Sindh
and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The northern mountains of Pakistan have good potential for trout
culture, but production is still very small. According to the latest estimates, the total area covered by fish ponds is about 60,500 ha in Pakistan, is 49,170 ha in Sindh, is 10,500 ha in Punjab, 560 ha in Khyber Pukhtunkhwa, and 240 ha in Balochistan
, Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir
. More than 12,000 fish farms have been established across Pakistan. The average size of farm ranges form 6-9 ha. About 50,000 people are employed in the sector.
In Sindh, the majority of farms are located in Thatta
, Badin
and Dadu
, the three districts through which the River Indus passes. Badin and Thatta have waterlogged
floodplain areas suitable for fish farming. In Punjab, farms are located mostly in irrigated areas or where there is abundant rain and the soil is alluvial. Sheikhupura
, Gujranwala
and Attock
districts have most farms. Khyber-Pukhtunkhwa has comparatively fewer farms, with trout farms in Chitral
, Swat
, Dir
, Malakand
, Mansehra
and FATA. Carp culture is practised in Dera Ismail Khan
, Kohat
, Mardan
, Swabi
and the Abbotabad districts.
On a typical carp farm in Pakistan, the ratio of the warm-water species stocked on the farm is catla
(10–20%), rohu
(30–35%), mrigal
(15–20%), grass carp
(15–20%) and silver carp
(15–20%). Some carp farms use a semi-intensive culture system. Intensive aquaculture has not yet been developed because of non-availability of low-cost feed and limited production expertise. Cold-water aquaculture provides a unique opportunity in the mountainous areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan. At present two species, brown trout
and rainbow trout
are being produced and cultured successfully.
) is almost absent in Pakistan despite its potential. Small-scale marine shrimp farming is carried out mainly near the Indus River Delta
which has yet to produce appreciable results. A mariculture farm in Sonmiani
was funded by USAID for developing sustainable production of edible shrimp. A potential for developing hatcheries of other crustacean varieties exist as well. Recent advances in field of genetic engineering indicate that marine oyster
s can also be farmed. Pakistan has 9 species of native species oysters belonging to genera of Crassostrea
, Saccostrea and Ostrea
, can be a good source of nutrition. At present, there is no commercial harvesting or hatchery culture of oysters in country.
of Karachi
; sport fishing (pelagic) in coastal waters; and hand-line fishing (bottom fishing) in inter-tidal and shallow waters. About 1,000 people with 120–150 fishing boats are involved in this sector. No license is required. However, their boats are required to be registered by Marine Mercantile department for seaworthiness. There are three boating clubs: The Karachi Yacht Club, The Karachi Boat Club and the Defence Marina Club. A number of fishing tournaments take place annually like the Angling for conservation by PGFA conducted Pakistan wide in freshwater, saltwater and brackish water bodies. The reigning Pakistan Saltwater Angling Champion is Orooj Ahmed Ali having caught a Black Marlin weighing 396 lbs in the All Pakistan Billfish Tournament, December 5, 1999, the heaviest fish caught on rod and reel in the Arabian Sea and the record stands todate.
For almost a decade now, The PGFA has promoted Angling and Conservation by ensuring that ethical recreational fishing provides value added income to rural communities through the utilization of their guiding skills to provide angling opportunities. Today, a community of more than 8000 PGFA members across Pakistan practice sport fishing under PGFA rules; approved by Pakistan Fisheries, which are in turn based on international standards of conservation and sustainable natural resource utilization, Some of the services that PGFA offers to Anglers for FREE are includes the following: an Online fishing diary and latest reports, A quarterly publication on recreational angling in Pakistan, conducts annual fishing competitions Pakistan wide by the name of “Angling for Conservation” based on releasing fish alive and rural community welfare, Club Memberships, Training workshops for New anglers, List of fishing hotspots, maintaining the database of Pakistan’s Fishing Records, list of game species and a club house in Clifton, Karachi.
PGFA can be reached at www.pgfa.org
provisionally valued this sector at Rs. 18,290 million in 2005 thus registering over 10% growth since 2000.
The fishing industry sector contributes to about 1% to the country's GNP.
Fish and shrimp processing is usually divided into mechanical and non-mechanical processing. The mechanical category includes freezing plants, canning, fishmeal plants and fish liver oil extraction plants. In the non-mechanical category there are dried fish, dried shrimp, shark fin
, fish maw/stomach, live lobster, live crab and fish roe
s/ovaries. There are 27 processing plants for the production of frozen products in Pakistan, one for canning and 8 for fishmeal processing. Almost 100 percent of the frozen and canned fishery products are exported, while the bulk of the processed fishmeal is used in the country in the manufacture of poultry feed or fish feed.
s are very common in Sindh
and at selected locations in Punjab
. All markets are under the control of the local administrations. Most fish markets have inadequate facilities; usually they lack cold storage facilities, have poor hygienic conditions and inadequate communication links. Most aquaculture product is consumed locally.
Prices tend to decline when the fish is more than 3 kg; other factors include freshness of the fish and the supply–demand situation in the market. Local consumers generally prefer freshwater fish over marine fish because of their familiarity with river and inland farmed fish, as well as the fresh condition of the product. This difference is reflected in both wholesale and retail prices, where freshwater fish is sold at a higher price than marine fish.
diet. In 2000, per capita food supply from fish and fishery products (kg/person) in Pakistan was 2, in Asia was 18 and in World was 16. Whereas, fish protein as a percentage of total protein supply in Pakistan was only 1%, in Asia was 10% and in World was 6%. Processed fishery products can include fish meal
(poultry feed, aquaculture feed), fish oil
, fish glue etc. Out of the total marine fish production, the percentage for human consumption ranged between 65 and 70 percent in 2006. The rest of the catch was used for other purposes, especially reduction to fishmeal. The annual per capita fish consumption in Pakistan was about 2.0 kg in 2006.
(GDP), 1.3 percent to agricultural GDP and less than 1 percent to national employment. The fisheries sector provides employment opportunities to an estimated 1.5 million individual fishermen, family members and related fishery workers, thereby providing direct support to nearly 6.0 million citizens throughout the country. In some rural areas, notably in Sindh and Balochistan, where very limited alternative sources of income are available, fishery development has contributed significantly to improved living conditions. Aquaculture is also seen as a means of filling an expected future gap between supply and demand for fish. If coastal aquaculture of high value shrimp and finfish species were to develop, export earnings would increase.
countries, Japan
and USA while importers of fish are China
, South Korea
, the Arab
countries, Singapore
and the Near East
.
Employment in the secondary sector (processing/marketing) is estimated to be around 55,000. A high proportion of those employed are women working in shrimp processing plants (sorting and peeling). Women also constitute most of the labour force involved in
net repair. It is clear that, the probable future need for considerable labour in marketing and distribution, the greatest potential for creating new jobs will be in the secondary sector.
Fishery
Generally, a fishery is an entity engaged in raising or harvesting fish which is determined by some authority to be a fishery. According to the FAO, a fishery is typically defined in terms of the "people involved, species or type of fish, area of water or seabed, method of fishing, class of boats,...
and fishing industry
Fishing industry
The fishing industry includes any industry or activity concerned with taking, culturing, processing, preserving, storing, transporting, marketing or selling fish or fish products....
plays a significant part in the national economy of Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
. With a coastline of about 814 km, Pakistan has enough fishery resources that remain to be developed. Most of the population of the coastal areas of Sindh
Sindh
Sindh historically referred to as Ba'ab-ul-Islam , is one of the four provinces of Pakistan and historically is home to the Sindhi people. It is also locally known as the "Mehran". Though Muslims form the largest religious group in Sindh, a good number of Christians, Zoroastrians and Hindus can...
and Balochistan
Balochistan
Balochistan or Baluchistan is a region which covers parts of Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan. It can also refer to one of several modern and historical territories within that region:...
depends on fisheries for livelihood. It is also a major source of export earning.
Fishing industry is the managed by the Fisheries Development Commissioner (FDC) under the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock (MFAL) of Government of Pakistan
Government of Pakistan
The Government of Pakistan is a federal parliamentary system, with an indirectly-elected President as the Head of State and Commander in Chief of the Pakistani Armed Forces, and an indirectly-elected Prime Minister as the Head of Government. The President’s appointment and term are...
. The office of the FDC is responsible for policy, planning and coordination with provincial fisheries departments and other national and international agencies such as Asia-Pacific Fishery Commission. The marine subsector is overlooked by Marine Fisheries Department
Marine Fisheries Department
Marine Fisheries Department is a Government of Pakistan department. MFD is attached to the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock and was established in 1951. It is the executive fishery agency of the federal Government, with primary responsibilities for ensuring management and development...
(MFD). The Pakistan Agricultural Research Council
Pakistan Agricultural Research Council
Pakistan Agricultural Research Council is located in Islamabad, Pakistan. Pakistan Agricultural Research Council is the apex agricultural research organization at the national level...
(PARC) is engaged in the research of the industry. Some universities in the country are also involved in basic fisheries research.
Resources
Pakistan has many marine and inland fishery resources. The potential was estimated at 1 million tonnes/year from the marine subsector alone. The commercially important resources include near 250 demersal fish species, 50 small pelagic fishPelagic fish
Pelagic fish live near the surface or in the water column of coastal, ocean and lake waters, but not on the bottom of the sea or the lake. They can be contrasted with demersal fish, which do live on or near the bottom, and reef fish which are associated with coral reefs.The marine pelagic...
species, 15 medium-sized pelagic species and 20 large pelagic fish species. In addition, there are also 15 commercial species of shrimp
Shrimp
Shrimp are swimming, decapod crustaceans classified in the infraorder Caridea, found widely around the world in both fresh and salt water. Adult shrimp are filter feeding benthic animals living close to the bottom. They can live in schools and can swim rapidly backwards. Shrimp are an important...
, 12 of cephalopod
Cephalopod
A cephalopod is any member of the molluscan class Cephalopoda . These exclusively marine animals are characterized by bilateral body symmetry, a prominent head, and a set of arms or tentacles modified from the primitive molluscan foot...
s and 5 of lobster
Lobster
Clawed lobsters comprise a family of large marine crustaceans. Highly prized as seafood, lobsters are economically important, and are often one of the most profitable commodities in coastal areas they populate.Though several groups of crustaceans are known as lobsters, the clawed lobsters are most...
. The effect of the Indus River Delta
Indus River Delta
The Indus River Delta , forms where the Indus River flows into the Arabian Sea in Pakistan. The delta covers an area of about 41,440 km² , and is approximately 210 km across where it meets the sea. The active part of the delta is 6,000 km² in area. The climate is arid, the region only receives...
on the marine resources of the coastline of Sindh is substantial, as this river system has been transporting enormous quantities of nutrients and sediment to the continental shelf for centuries. Pakistan has an extensive inland water areas system which is mainly dominated by the Indus River
Indus River
The Indus River is a major river which flows through Pakistan. It also has courses through China and India.Originating in the Tibetan plateau of western China in the vicinity of Lake Mansarovar in Tibet Autonomous Region, the river runs a course through the Ladakh district of Jammu and Kashmir and...
. These water bodies, depending on their type, possess varying potential for development of the inland and aquaculture subsectors. Inland water bodies, like dams, water locks, reservoirs, rivers, lakes and ponds cover an area of approximately 8 million hectares.
Marine varieties
The shrimp variety includes the species of Penaeus indicus and Penaeus monodonPenaeus monodon
Penaeus monodon, the giant tiger prawn , is a marine crustacean that is widely reared for food.-Distribution:...
among 12 other. Surveys in the Arabian Sea
Arabian Sea
The Arabian Sea is a region of the Indian Ocean bounded on the east by India, on the north by Pakistan and Iran, on the west by the Arabian Peninsula, on the south, approximately, by a line between Cape Guardafui in northeastern Somalia and Kanyakumari in India...
indicate that commercial species of crustaceans like shrimps and lobsters are overexploited. Crabs, cephalopods and other molluscs are an unconventional resource. However, there is a potential in the export market as a substitute for these. Demersal fish resources show signs of being exploited, hence only limited expansion of catch is possible in future. There may be a possibility of expanding the catch the small pelagic fish resources by venturing further offshore. It is very much likely that the fishermen would have to consider using new fishing methods in order to achieve this. As for the larger variety of pelagic fish, especially Skipjack tuna
Skipjack tuna
The skipjack tuna, Katsuwonus pelamis, is a medium-sized perciform fish in the tuna family, Scombridae. It is otherwise known as the aku, arctic bonito, mushmouth, oceanic bonito, striped tuna, or victor fish...
and its relatives, are available in the Exclusive Economic Zone
Exclusive Economic Zone
Under the law of the sea, an exclusive economic zone is a seazone over which a state has special rights over the exploration and use of marine resources, including production of energy from water and wind. It stretches from the seaward edge of the state's territorial sea out to 200 nautical...
of Pakistan in the Karachi District. Fishing for these usually result in by-catches of marlin
Marlin
Marlin, family Istiophoridae, are fish with an elongated body, a spear-like snout or bill, and a long rigid dorsal fin, which extends forward to form a crest. Its common name is thought to derive from its resemblance to a sailor's marlinspike...
and shark species. Local fishing fleet commonly harvests the species of Frigate mackerel, Indian mackerel
Indian mackerel
The Indian mackerel is a species ofmackerel in the scombrid family of orderPerciformes. It is commonlyfound in the Indian and WestPacific oceans, and their surrounding seas...
, Spanish mackerel
Spanish mackerel
Spanish mackerel may refer to:* Chloroscombrus chrysurus* Elagatis bipinnulata* Schedophilus maculatus* Scomber japonicus* Scomberomorus brasiliensis* Scomberomorus cavalla* Scomberomorus commerson* Scomberomorus guttatus...
, barracuda
Barracuda
The barracuda is a ray-finned fish known for its large size and fearsome appearance. Its body is long, fairly compressed, and covered with small, smooth scales. Some species could reach up to 1.8m in length and 30 cm in width...
and dolphinfish. The production figures of 2006 showed overexploitation relative to maximum sustainable yield
Maximum sustainable yield
In population ecology and economics, maximum sustainable yield or MSY is, theoretically, the largest yield that can be taken from a species' stock over an indefinite period...
level. A large variety of mesopelagic fish exist just off the continental shelf and are barely exploited. These resources are prime candidates for conversion to fishmeal for use in poultry and aquaculture but no commercial use is available in the country. Mussels, oysters, clams, seaweed, kelp, sea urchins and other marine resources also exist in Pakistan but further research data is required in order to evaluate the feasibility of propagating the mariculture of these varieties.
Marine subsector
Pakistan has a continental shelfContinental shelf
The continental shelf is the extended perimeter of each continent and associated coastal plain. Much of the shelf was exposed during glacial periods, but is now submerged under relatively shallow seas and gulfs, and was similarly submerged during other interglacial periods. The continental margin,...
area of 50,270 km2 and coastline length of 1,120 km. The total maritime zone of Pakistan is over 30 percent of the land area. The coastal belt is characterized by a meshwork of estuaries and creeks with mangrove
Mangrove
Mangroves are various kinds of trees up to medium height and shrubs that grow in saline coastal sediment habitats in the tropics and subtropics – mainly between latitudes N and S...
forestry that serve as nursery grounds for species of finfish and shellfish
Shellfish
Shellfish is a culinary and fisheries term for exoskeleton-bearing aquatic invertebrates used as food, including various species of molluscs, crustaceans, and echinoderms. Although most kinds of shellfish are harvested from saltwater environments, some kinds are found only in freshwater...
. In 1958, the first modern fish harbour was constructed at the Karachi District. Later, the fleet expanded and is now mostly mechanized.
Harbours
Karachi Fish Harbour
Karachi Fish Harbour is located in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan. Karachi Fish Harbour handles about 90% of the fish and seafood catch in Pakistan and 95% of fish and seafood exports from Pakistan.- See also :* Karachi Fisheries Harbour Authority...
is the biggest and oldest of its kind in Pakistan, being used by all types of fishing boats. Currently more than 4,000 fishing craft are based in it. At present, it can be assumed that the harbour caters for the needs of near 75 percent of the local fleet.
The major fish harbours of Pakistan are:
- Karachi Fish HarbourKarachi Fish HarbourKarachi Fish Harbour is located in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan. Karachi Fish Harbour handles about 90% of the fish and seafood catch in Pakistan and 95% of fish and seafood exports from Pakistan.- See also :* Karachi Fisheries Harbour Authority...
handles about 90% of fish and seafood catch in Pakistan and 95% of fish and seafood exports from Pakistan. - Karachi Fisheries Harbour is being operated by Provincial Government of Sindh.
- Korangi Fish HarbourKorangi Fish HarbourKorangi Fish Harbour is located in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan.It is a new facility built to take pressure off the Karachi Fish Harbour, to service a boom in fisheries production, and for large trawlers and processing vessels...
is being managed by Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock. - Pasni Fish HarbourPasni Fish HarbourPasni Fish Harbour is located in Pasni, Balochistan, Pakistan, operated by the Government of Balochistan.- See also :* Port of Pasni* Karachi Fisheries Harbour Authority* Karachi Fish Harbour* Korangi Fish Harbour* Gwadar Fish Harbour...
being operated by Provincial Government of Balochistan. - Gwadar Fish HarbourGwadar Fish HarbourGwadar Fish Harbour is located in Gwadar, Balochistan, Pakistan. It is operated by the Federal Ministry of Communication.- See also :* Karachi Fisheries Harbour Authority* Karachi Fish Harbour* Korangi Fish Harbour* Pasni Fish Harbour-External links:*...
being operated by Federal Ministry of Communication.
Methods
Shrimp fisheryThe shrimp
Shrimp
Shrimp are swimming, decapod crustaceans classified in the infraorder Caridea, found widely around the world in both fresh and salt water. Adult shrimp are filter feeding benthic animals living close to the bottom. They can live in schools and can swim rapidly backwards. Shrimp are an important...
fishery is very meaningful because of foreign exchange earned and employment produced from it. It is only permitted in province of Sindh. Commercial shrimp trawling started in 1958, after the MFD
Marine Fisheries Department
Marine Fisheries Department is a Government of Pakistan department. MFD is attached to the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock and was established in 1951. It is the executive fishery agency of the federal Government, with primary responsibilities for ensuring management and development...
introduced mechanization of larger fishing vessels. Now almost all of the shrimp trawlers are equipped with winches for net hauling. However, shrimp can also be caught by the use of cast net
Cast net
A cast net, also called a throw net, is a net used for fishing. It is a circular net with small weights distributed around its edge.The net is cast or thrown by hand in such a manner that it spreads out on the water and sinks. This technique is called net casting or net throwing. Fish are caught as...
, which is locally termed 'thukri'. The catching is mainly carried out in shallow depths from October to March. It is also caught in eustaries and brackish waters from July to September. The catch is then processed frozen
Frozen food
Freezing food preserves it from the time it is prepared to the time it is eaten. Since early times, farmers, fishermen, and trappers have preserved their game and produce in unheated buildings during the winter season. Freezing food slows down decomposition by turning water to ice, making it...
for the objective of exporting to North American and European Union markets.
Tuna fishery
The fishing of tuna
Tuna
Tuna is a salt water fish from the family Scombridae, mostly in the genus Thunnus. Tuna are fast swimmers, and some species are capable of speeds of . Unlike most fish, which have white flesh, the muscle tissue of tuna ranges from pink to dark red. The red coloration derives from myoglobin, an...
varieties is another appreciable aspect of the industry that is carried out by artisanal fishing
Artisan fishing
Artisan fishing is a term used to describe small scale low-technology commercial or subsistence fishing practices. The term particularly applies to coastal or island ethnic groups using traditional techniques such as rod and tackle, arrows and harpoons, throw nets and drag nets, and traditional...
vessels. Usually, the fleet shoot the gillnet
Gillnet
Gillnetting is a common fishing method used by commercial and artisanal fishermen of all the oceans and in some freshwater and estuary areas. The gillnet also is used by fisheries scientists to monitor fish populations. Because gillnets can be so effective their use is closely monitored and...
s in the evening and fetch them the next morning. The main target are the pelagic species with higher commercial values. The catch is exported as chilled to neighbouring country of Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
through informal channels for canning purposes. This fetches more profit than if exported to Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
in dried and salted
Salt-cured meat
Salt-cured meat or salted meat, for example bacon and kippered herring, is meat or fish preserved or cured with salt. Salting, either with dry salt or brine, was the only widely available method of preserving meat until the 19th century...
form.
Benthic fishery
The deep sea resources remain comparatively unexploited because local vessels are neither suitable nor equipped for deep-water fishery. The idea has motivated entrepreneurs to augment their deep-sea fishing craft for use of the resources. Small-scale benthic or demersal fishery is most common in coastal inshore waters. Fishermen use nylon gillnet
Gillnet
Gillnetting is a common fishing method used by commercial and artisanal fishermen of all the oceans and in some freshwater and estuary areas. The gillnet also is used by fisheries scientists to monitor fish populations. Because gillnets can be so effective their use is closely monitored and...
, locally termed 'ruch', with a mesh of about 150 mm long. Benthic varieties include the marine jewfish
Jewfish
Jewfish is the informal name of some species of fish, including:*Glaucosoma hebraicum, the West Australian Dhufish*Epinephelus itajara, the Goliath grouper*Argyrosomus japonicus, also called mulloway in Australia and dusky Kob in South Africa...
, croaker
Sciaenidae
Sciaenidae is a family of fish commonly called drums, croakers, or hardheads for the repetitive throbbing or drumming sounds they make...
s, grunters, snapper
Lutjanidae
Snappers are a family of perciform fish, mainly marine but with some members inhabiting estuaries, feeding in freshwater. Some are important food fish. One of the best known is the red snapper....
s, grouper
Grouper
Groupers are fish of any of a number of genera in the subfamily Epinephelinae of the family Serranidae, in the order Perciformes.Not all serranids are called groupers; the family also includes the sea basses. The common name grouper is usually given to fish in one of two large genera: Epinephelus...
s, ribbonfish
Ribbonfish
The ribbonfish are any lampriform in the family Trachipteridae. These pelagic fish are named for their slim, ribbon-like appearance. They are rarely seen alive as they typically live in deep waters ....
and pomfret
Pomfret
Pomfret are perciform fishes belonging to the family Bramidae.They are found in the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans, and the largest species, the Atlantic pomfret, Brama brama, grows up to long....
s.
Pelagic fishery
A small-scale pelagic fish
Pelagic fish
Pelagic fish live near the surface or in the water column of coastal, ocean and lake waters, but not on the bottom of the sea or the lake. They can be contrasted with demersal fish, which do live on or near the bottom, and reef fish which are associated with coral reefs.The marine pelagic...
ery is in operation in Sindh, using special nets, locally termed 'katra'. Fishing is carried out from 'hora' boats - wooden sailboats with pointed ends, a broad breadth and long-shaft outboard engine. In depths shallower than 20 m, shoals of clupeids, especially the Indian Oil Sardine
Indian Oil Sardine
Indian Oil Sardine is a species of ray-finned fish in the genus Sardinella.Sardinella longiceps is one of the two most important commercial fishes in India . The Indian Oil Sardine is one of the more regionally limited species of Sardinella and can be found in the northern regions of the Indian...
, are usually intended. Such operations are mainly based at Ibrahim Hydri and Chashma Goth villages. The desirable months are from October to November and February to April. The catch is the prime candidate for conversion into fishmeal.
Vessels
As of 2000, the number of docked fishery vessels was near 6,000. The two main types of fishing craft include:- Mechanized docked boats: There are over 4,000 boats of this kind registered, which constitute shrimp trawlers and as well as gillnetGillnetGillnetting is a common fishing method used by commercial and artisanal fishermen of all the oceans and in some freshwater and estuary areas. The gillnet also is used by fisheries scientists to monitor fish populations. Because gillnets can be so effective their use is closely monitored and...
ters. Both are also locally made of wood, according to traditional design and fitted with 80–220 hp diesel engines. The average length of a trawler is 10–25 m while that of a gillnetter is 15–35 m. For hauling, many trawlers have a transom stern. Gillnetters are pointed at both ends and the net is pulled over the side. Freezing vessels also operate in the EEZExclusive Economic ZoneUnder the law of the sea, an exclusive economic zone is a seazone over which a state has special rights over the exploration and use of marine resources, including production of energy from water and wind. It stretches from the seaward edge of the state's territorial sea out to 200 nautical...
and all their catch is exported. - Mechanized sailboats: Made of wood and equipped with two or more outboard engines, but generally smaller than docked vessels, they are locally called 'hora' boats. Most of these sailboatSailboatA sailboat or sailing boat is a boat propelled partly or entirely by sails. The term covers a variety of boats, larger than small vessels such as sailboards and smaller than sailing ships, but distinctions in the size are not strictly defined and what constitutes a sailing ship, sailboat, or a...
s now operate in freshwater bodies. 'Doonda' boats are custom-built fibreglass scrapped lifeboatsLifeboat (rescue)A rescue lifeboat is a boat rescue craft which is used to attend a vessel in distress, or its survivors, to rescue crewmen and passengers. It can be hand pulled, sail powered or powered by an engine...
, with an average length of 7–10 m and 22–33 hp engines. These boats are able to function in up to 20 m depth. As of 2006, there are over 2,000 active boats of this kind.
Inland subsector
Freshwater capture fisheries are dominated by the Indus RiverIndus River
The Indus River is a major river which flows through Pakistan. It also has courses through China and India.Originating in the Tibetan plateau of western China in the vicinity of Lake Mansarovar in Tibet Autonomous Region, the river runs a course through the Ladakh district of Jammu and Kashmir and...
and its tributaries. The fish fauna of the Indus system in its northern part is cold-water type, while the greater middle and southern parts of the system are warm-water zones. Fisheries in rivers and reservoirs account for more than 80 percent of total inland fish production. The riverine fishery management system is operated mainly by provincial fisheries departments. They enforce regulatory laws that restrict catch by size of fish and establish closed seasons.
Dams and reservoirs
Six large reservoirs have been created in the past four decades through the construction of dams and barrages across rivers, which provide about 250,000 ha for fish production. In addition, there are several smaller reservoirs. The fisheries production is currently managed by WAPDA through harvest limits during certain seasons and minimum size of fish landed.Lakes
In the SindhSindh
Sindh historically referred to as Ba'ab-ul-Islam , is one of the four provinces of Pakistan and historically is home to the Sindhi people. It is also locally known as the "Mehran". Though Muslims form the largest religious group in Sindh, a good number of Christians, Zoroastrians and Hindus can...
alone there are more than 100 natural lakes of different sizes covering an area of about 100,000 ha. Among them Haleji lake
Haleji Lake
Haleji Lake is located in Thatta District, Sindh, Pakistan. It is the Asia's largest bird sanctuary. -History:Originally, Haleji Lake was small. During World War II the then-British Government of Sindh decided to increase the capacity of the lake by introducing a feeder canal from the River Sindh....
(1,800 ha), Kinjhar Lake (12,000 ha) and Manchar lake (16,000 ha) are quite important for fish production. Manchar alone supports 2,000 fishing families. Apart from these big lakes, a cluster of small lakes extend over 40,000 ha. The natural lakes in Punjab cover about 7,000 ha. Some of the lakes, such as Namal lake
Namal lake
Namal Lake is located in one corner of the Namal valley in Mianwali, Punjab, Pakistan. It was formed following the construction of Namal Dam in 1913. Namal Dam is situated some 32 km from Mianwali city. The lake has a surface area of 5.5 km². There are mountains on its western and...
(480 ha), Uchhali lake
Uchhali Lake
Uchhali is a saltwater lake in Soan Sakaser Valley in the southern Salt Range area in Pakistan. This lake is formed due to the absence of drainage in the range.Sakaser, the highest mountain in the Salt Range at , looms over the lake....
(943 ha), Jahlar lake (100 ha), Kallar Kahar
Kallar Kahar
Kallar Kahar is a union council and subdivision of Chakwal District in Punjab, Pakistan. It is a tourist destination located 25 kilometres southwest of Chakwal along the motorway. It is notable for its natural gardens, peacocks and a saltwater lake...
(100 ha), Kharal lake (235 ha) and Khabikki lake
Khabikki Lake
Khabikki Lake is a salt water lake in the southern Salt Range area in Pakistan. This lake is formed due to the absence of drainage in the range....
(283 ha) are brackish and are too saline to support aquaculture.
Aquaculture subsector
AquacultureAquaculture
Aquaculture, also known as aquafarming, is the farming of aquatic organisms such as fish, crustaceans, molluscs and aquatic plants. Aquaculture involves cultivating freshwater and saltwater populations under controlled conditions, and can be contrasted with commercial fishing, which is the...
(or fish farming) is new in Pakistan. However, there is immense potential for development of the sector. Aquaculture production has rapidly increased since 2000 from around 10-15 thousands tonnes to reach over 100,000 tonnes in 2006 and 2007. Despite its vast fresh, brackish and marine water resources only carp
Carp
Carp are various species of oily freshwater fish of the family Cyprinidae, a very large group of fish native to Europe and Asia. The cypriniformes are traditionally grouped with the Characiformes, Siluriformes and Gymnotiformes to create the superorder Ostariophysi, since these groups have certain...
culture is practiced in ponds. In Pakistan, the fish fauna is rich but only seven warm water species and two cold water species are cultivated on a commercial scale. Aquaculture has also received a substantial amount of government investment, and facilities are now in place that can provide the basis for a major future expansion. With the exception of trout culture in the northern regions, virtually all aquaculture consists of pond culture of various carp species.
Freshwater farming
Freshwater carp farming is the major aquaculture activity in PunjabPunjab (Pakistan)
Punjab is the most populous province of Pakistan, with approximately 45% of the country's total population. Forming most of the Punjab region, the province is bordered by Kashmir to the north-east, the Indian states of Punjab and Rajasthan to the east, the Pakistani province of Sindh to the...
, Sindh
Sindh
Sindh historically referred to as Ba'ab-ul-Islam , is one of the four provinces of Pakistan and historically is home to the Sindhi people. It is also locally known as the "Mehran". Though Muslims form the largest religious group in Sindh, a good number of Christians, Zoroastrians and Hindus can...
and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The northern mountains of Pakistan have good potential for trout
Trout
Trout is the name for a number of species of freshwater and saltwater fish belonging to the Salmoninae subfamily of the family Salmonidae. Salmon belong to the same family as trout. Most salmon species spend almost all their lives in salt water...
culture, but production is still very small. According to the latest estimates, the total area covered by fish ponds is about 60,500 ha in Pakistan, is 49,170 ha in Sindh, is 10,500 ha in Punjab, 560 ha in Khyber Pukhtunkhwa, and 240 ha in Balochistan
Balochistan
Balochistan or Baluchistan is a region which covers parts of Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan. It can also refer to one of several modern and historical territories within that region:...
, Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir
Azad Kashmir
Azad Jammu and Kashmir or Azad Kashmir for short, is the southernmost political entity within the Pakistani-administered part of the former princely state of Jammu and Kashmir...
. More than 12,000 fish farms have been established across Pakistan. The average size of farm ranges form 6-9 ha. About 50,000 people are employed in the sector.
In Sindh, the majority of farms are located in Thatta
Thatta
Thatta is a historic town of 220,000 inhabitants in the Sindh province of Pakistan, near Lake Keenjhar, the largest freshwater lake in the country. Thatta's major monuments especially its necropolis at Makli are listed among the World Heritage Sites. The Shah Jahan Mosque is also listed...
, Badin
Badin
Badin is the main city and capital of Badin District in Sindh, Pakistan. It lies east of the Indus River. The region is swampy, fertile for growing rice. Some oil fields are located near the town in the seasonally inundated Rann of Kutch region...
and Dadu
Dadu District
Dadu is a district of Sindh Province, Pakistan.Dadu district was created in 1933 by the British Indian administration by merging Kotri and Kohistan tehsils from Karachi district and Mehar, Khairpur Nathan Shah, Dadu, Johi and Sehwan tehsils from Larkana district. The population of the district is...
, the three districts through which the River Indus passes. Badin and Thatta have waterlogged
Waterlogging (agriculture)
Waterlogging refers to the saturation of soil with water. Soil may be regarded as waterlogged when the water table of the groundwater is too high to conveniently permit an anticipated activity, like agriculture....
floodplain areas suitable for fish farming. In Punjab, farms are located mostly in irrigated areas or where there is abundant rain and the soil is alluvial. Sheikhupura
Sheikhupura
Sheikhupura or Shekhupur , formerly Kot Dayal Das or Singhpuria or Virkgarh , is an industrial city in the province of Punjab slightly northwest to Lahore in Pakistan. It is known for its historical places, and is commonly known locally as Qila Shaikhupura, because of the fort in the city,...
, Gujranwala
Gujranwala
Gujranwala is a industrial city in the north-east of the Punjab province. It is the sixth largest city in Pakistan with a population of approximately 2,661,360 as on 24 June 2011...
and Attock
Attock
Attock is a city located in the northern border of the Punjab province of Pakistan and the headquarters of Attock District...
districts have most farms. Khyber-Pukhtunkhwa has comparatively fewer farms, with trout farms in Chitral
Chitral
Chitral or Chetrar , translated as field in the native language Khowar, is the capital of the Chitral District, situated on the western bank of the Kunar River , in Pakistan. The town is at the foot of Tirich Mir, the highest peak of the Hindu Kush, high...
, Swat
Swat
SWAT is the special-weapons-and-tactics unit of a law-enforcement agency. Swat or SWAT may also refer to:In media:* SWAT , a video games series spin-off of Police Quest...
, Dir
Dir, Pakistan
Dir is a town in Upper Dir District, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province, Pakistan. It is sometimes known as Dir Proper or Khas Dir to distinguish it from the district. It lies at the foot of the Lowarai Pass, the main motor road to Chitral, on the Dir River, a tributary of the Panjkora River.Dir was...
, Malakand
Malakand District
Malakand District is a district of the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in Pakistan.The District was formed in 1970 as a Provincially Administered Tribal Area, It had previously been a Tribal Area known as the Malakand Protected Area, part of the Malakand Agency...
, Mansehra
Mansehra
Mansehra city is located at in Mansehra District, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. It is very near to Abbottabad city. It is a major stop for tourists on the Karakoram Highway which leads to China...
and FATA. Carp culture is practised in Dera Ismail Khan
Dera Ismail Khan
Dera Ismail Khan is a city in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Province, Pakistan. It is situated on the west bank of the Indus River, west of Lahore and northwest of Multan. The city is the capital of the district and tehsil of the same name. In Pakistan, its name is often abbreviated to D. I...
, Kohat
Kohat
Kohat is a medium sized town in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. It is located at 33°35'13N 71°26'29E with an altitude of 489 metres and is the capital of Kohat District. The town centres around a British-era fort, various bazaars, and a military cantonment. A British-built narrow gauge...
, Mardan
Mardan
Mardan , known as The city of hospitality, is a city and headquarters of Mardan District in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, Pakistan. It is the de facto headquarters of the Yousafzai tribe and the second most populous city in the province, located at 34°12'0N 72°1'60E and an altitude of in the south...
, Swabi
Swabi
Swabi is the capital of Swabi District in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. It is located at 34°7'0N 72°28'0E. Its residents are referred to as 'Swabiwaal.'-Geography:...
and the Abbotabad districts.
On a typical carp farm in Pakistan, the ratio of the warm-water species stocked on the farm is catla
Catla
Catla catla, , also known as Indian Carp, is the only member of the genus Catla, of the carp family Cyprinidae. It is a fish with a large protruding lower jaw. It is commonly found in rivers and freshwater lakes in India , Nepal, Myanmar, Bangladesh and Pakistan...
(10–20%), rohu
Rohu
Rohi or Rohu is a fish of the carp family Cyprinidae, found commonly in rivers and freshwater lakes in and around South Asia and South-East Asia. It is a herbivore. It is treated as a delicacy in Bangladesh, Nepal and the Indian states of Orissa, Assam, West Bengal, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh...
(30–35%), mrigal
Mrigal
The Mrigal carp , also known as Indian Carp, is a species of ray-finned fish in the genus Cirrhinus. Native to the Ganges and Brahmaputra rivers of the Indian Subcontinent, it is extensively aquafarmed, with 463,520 t harvested in 2008....
(15–20%), grass carp
Grass carp
The grass carp is a herbivorous, freshwater fish species of family Cyprinidae, and the only species of the genus Ctenopharyngodon. It is cultivated in China for food, but was introduced in Europe and the United States for aquatic weed control...
(15–20%) and silver carp
Silver carp
The silver carp is a species of freshwater cyprinid fish, a variety of Asian carp native to north and northeast Asia. It is cultivated in China....
(15–20%). Some carp farms use a semi-intensive culture system. Intensive aquaculture has not yet been developed because of non-availability of low-cost feed and limited production expertise. Cold-water aquaculture provides a unique opportunity in the mountainous areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan. At present two species, brown trout
Brown trout
The brown trout and the sea trout are fish of the same species....
and rainbow trout
Rainbow trout
The rainbow trout is a species of salmonid native to tributaries of the Pacific Ocean in Asia and North America. The steelhead is a sea run rainbow trout usually returning to freshwater to spawn after 2 to 3 years at sea. In other words, rainbow trout and steelhead trout are the same species....
are being produced and cultured successfully.
Mariculture potential
Coastal aquaculture (or maricultureMariculture
Mariculture is a specialized branch of aquaculture involving the cultivation of marine organisms for food and other products in the open ocean, an enclosed section of the ocean, or in tanks, ponds or raceways which are filled with seawater. An example of the latter is the farming of marine fish,...
) is almost absent in Pakistan despite its potential. Small-scale marine shrimp farming is carried out mainly near the Indus River Delta
Indus River Delta
The Indus River Delta , forms where the Indus River flows into the Arabian Sea in Pakistan. The delta covers an area of about 41,440 km² , and is approximately 210 km across where it meets the sea. The active part of the delta is 6,000 km² in area. The climate is arid, the region only receives...
which has yet to produce appreciable results. A mariculture farm in Sonmiani
Sonmiani
Sonmiani is a coastal town in the southeast of Balochistan province in Pakistan, approximately 145 kilometres northwest of Karachi. The coast of Sonmiani is the northernmost point of the Arabian Sea. The town also serves as a Union Council of Hub Tehsil. Sonmiani is noted for its space research...
was funded by USAID for developing sustainable production of edible shrimp. A potential for developing hatcheries of other crustacean varieties exist as well. Recent advances in field of genetic engineering indicate that marine oyster
Oyster
The word oyster is used as a common name for a number of distinct groups of bivalve molluscs which live in marine or brackish habitats. The valves are highly calcified....
s can also be farmed. Pakistan has 9 species of native species oysters belonging to genera of Crassostrea
Crassostrea
Crassostrea is a genus of true oysters containing the most important oysters used for food.- Species :* Crassostrea ** †Crassostrea alabamiensis...
, Saccostrea and Ostrea
Ostrea
Ostrea is a genus of oyster in the family Ostreidae. Evidence of a number of species of this genus in the geological fossil record demonstrates the ancient nature of this genus, and also gives testimony to the species that co-existed with members of the Ostrea genus...
, can be a good source of nutrition. At present, there is no commercial harvesting or hatchery culture of oysters in country.
Recreation subsector
There are three main types of recreational fisheries in Pakistan: billfish and tuna fishing in the EEZExclusive Economic Zone
Under the law of the sea, an exclusive economic zone is a seazone over which a state has special rights over the exploration and use of marine resources, including production of energy from water and wind. It stretches from the seaward edge of the state's territorial sea out to 200 nautical...
of Karachi
Karachi
Karachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...
; sport fishing (pelagic) in coastal waters; and hand-line fishing (bottom fishing) in inter-tidal and shallow waters. About 1,000 people with 120–150 fishing boats are involved in this sector. No license is required. However, their boats are required to be registered by Marine Mercantile department for seaworthiness. There are three boating clubs: The Karachi Yacht Club, The Karachi Boat Club and the Defence Marina Club. A number of fishing tournaments take place annually like the Angling for conservation by PGFA conducted Pakistan wide in freshwater, saltwater and brackish water bodies. The reigning Pakistan Saltwater Angling Champion is Orooj Ahmed Ali having caught a Black Marlin weighing 396 lbs in the All Pakistan Billfish Tournament, December 5, 1999, the heaviest fish caught on rod and reel in the Arabian Sea and the record stands todate.
For almost a decade now, The PGFA has promoted Angling and Conservation by ensuring that ethical recreational fishing provides value added income to rural communities through the utilization of their guiding skills to provide angling opportunities. Today, a community of more than 8000 PGFA members across Pakistan practice sport fishing under PGFA rules; approved by Pakistan Fisheries, which are in turn based on international standards of conservation and sustainable natural resource utilization, Some of the services that PGFA offers to Anglers for FREE are includes the following: an Online fishing diary and latest reports, A quarterly publication on recreational angling in Pakistan, conducts annual fishing competitions Pakistan wide by the name of “Angling for Conservation” based on releasing fish alive and rural community welfare, Club Memberships, Training workshops for New anglers, List of fishing hotspots, maintaining the database of Pakistan’s Fishing Records, list of game species and a club house in Clifton, Karachi.
PGFA can be reached at www.pgfa.org
Annual capture
| Resources | Biomass | MSY Maximum sustainable yield In population ecology and economics, maximum sustainable yield or MSY is, theoretically, the largest yield that can be taken from a species' stock over an indefinite period... | Production | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fish Fish Fish are a paraphyletic group of organisms that consist of all gill-bearing aquatic vertebrate animals that lack limbs with digits. Included in this definition are the living hagfish, lampreys, and cartilaginous and bony fish, as well as various extinct related groups... |
Demersal fish | 500,000 | 213,000 | 175,674 |
| Small pelagic fish Pelagic fish Pelagic fish live near the surface or in the water column of coastal, ocean and lake waters, but not on the bottom of the sea or the lake. They can be contrasted with demersal fish, which do live on or near the bottom, and reef fish which are associated with coral reefs.The marine pelagic... |
700,000 | 225,000 | 100,000 | |
| Large pelagic fish | 80,000 | 43,000 | 47,000 | |
| Crustacean Crustacean Crustaceans form a very large group of arthropods, usually treated as a subphylum, which includes such familiar animals as crabs, lobsters, crayfish, shrimp, krill and barnacles. The 50,000 described species range in size from Stygotantulus stocki at , to the Japanese spider crab with a leg span... s |
Shrimps | 88,000 | 18,000 | 18,433 |
| Lobster Lobster Clawed lobsters comprise a family of large marine crustaceans. Highly prized as seafood, lobsters are economically important, and are often one of the most profitable commodities in coastal areas they populate.Though several groups of crustaceans are known as lobsters, the clawed lobsters are most... |
8,000 | 2,000 | 600 | |
| Crab Crab True crabs are decapod crustaceans of the infraorder Brachyura, which typically have a very short projecting "tail" , or where the reduced abdomen is entirely hidden under the thorax... s |
25,000 | 8,500 | 4,218 | |
| Molluscs | Cephalopod Cephalopod A cephalopod is any member of the molluscan class Cephalopoda . These exclusively marine animals are characterized by bilateral body symmetry, a prominent head, and a set of arms or tentacles modified from the primitive molluscan foot... s |
30,000 | 11,000 | 5,400 |
| Gastropods | 20,000 | 5,000 | 731 | |
| Total | 1,451,000 | 525,500 | 352,056 | |
Gross national product
The Federal Bureau of StatisticsFederal Bureau of Statistics
The Federal Bureau of Statistics, also known as FBS is a Government of Pakistan's major and executive and federal department charged with the national statistical services and to provide solid and comprehensive statistical research. The FBS is one of the departments of the Statistics Division of...
provisionally valued this sector at Rs. 18,290 million in 2005 thus registering over 10% growth since 2000.
The fishing industry sector contributes to about 1% to the country's GNP.
| Year | 1999-00 | 2000-01 | 2001-02 | 2002-03 | 2003-04 | 2004-05 | 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | 2009-10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GNP | 15,163 | 16,546 | 16,377 | 16,625 | 16,728 | 17,490 | 30,492 | 42,668 | 52,391 | 53,731 | 56,182 |
Processing
Marine fish is marketed as fresh, frozen, canned, cured, reduced to fishmeal, other purposes, and some retained by fishermen for their own use. The freshwater catch is marketed fresh for local consumption. Out of the total marine fish production, the percentage for human consumption ranged between 65 and 70 percent in 2006. The rest of the catch was used for other purposes, especially reduction to fishmeal.Fish and shrimp processing is usually divided into mechanical and non-mechanical processing. The mechanical category includes freezing plants, canning, fishmeal plants and fish liver oil extraction plants. In the non-mechanical category there are dried fish, dried shrimp, shark fin
Shark finning
Shark finning refers to the removal and retention of shark fins and the discarding of the rest of the fish. Shark finning takes place at sea so the fishers only have to transport the fins.Shark finning is widespread, and largely unmanaged and unmonitored...
, fish maw/stomach, live lobster, live crab and fish roe
Roe
Roe or hard roe is the fully ripe internal egg masses in the ovaries, or the released external egg masses of fish and certain marine animals, such as shrimp, scallop and sea urchins...
s/ovaries. There are 27 processing plants for the production of frozen products in Pakistan, one for canning and 8 for fishmeal processing. Almost 100 percent of the frozen and canned fishery products are exported, while the bulk of the processed fishmeal is used in the country in the manufacture of poultry feed or fish feed.
Marketing
The marketing chain for fish is similar to that for other agricultural commodities. Products are sold into the market to wholesalers and then onto retailers and end consumers through agents working on a commission basis. Farmed fish tend to be marketed either at the farm gate, through intermediaries or by open auction, where ice-packed fish is sent to fish markets and sold. Buyers of fishery products can be members of the public, retailers, wholesalers and agents for processing plants or exporters. Fish marketFish market
A fish market is a marketplace used for marketing fish products. It can be dedicated to wholesale trade between fishermen and fish merchants, or to the sale of seafood to individual consumers, or to both...
s are very common in Sindh
Sindh
Sindh historically referred to as Ba'ab-ul-Islam , is one of the four provinces of Pakistan and historically is home to the Sindhi people. It is also locally known as the "Mehran". Though Muslims form the largest religious group in Sindh, a good number of Christians, Zoroastrians and Hindus can...
and at selected locations in Punjab
Punjab (Pakistan)
Punjab is the most populous province of Pakistan, with approximately 45% of the country's total population. Forming most of the Punjab region, the province is bordered by Kashmir to the north-east, the Indian states of Punjab and Rajasthan to the east, the Pakistani province of Sindh to the...
. All markets are under the control of the local administrations. Most fish markets have inadequate facilities; usually they lack cold storage facilities, have poor hygienic conditions and inadequate communication links. Most aquaculture product is consumed locally.
Prices tend to decline when the fish is more than 3 kg; other factors include freshness of the fish and the supply–demand situation in the market. Local consumers generally prefer freshwater fish over marine fish because of their familiarity with river and inland farmed fish, as well as the fresh condition of the product. This difference is reflected in both wholesale and retail prices, where freshwater fish is sold at a higher price than marine fish.
Consumption
In the world, and hence in Pakistan, fish is considered a cheap source of proteinProtein
Proteins are biochemical compounds consisting of one or more polypeptides typically folded into a globular or fibrous form, facilitating a biological function. A polypeptide is a single linear polymer chain of amino acids bonded together by peptide bonds between the carboxyl and amino groups of...
diet. In 2000, per capita food supply from fish and fishery products (kg/person) in Pakistan was 2, in Asia was 18 and in World was 16. Whereas, fish protein as a percentage of total protein supply in Pakistan was only 1%, in Asia was 10% and in World was 6%. Processed fishery products can include fish meal
Fish meal
Fish meal, or fishmeal, is a commercial product made from both whole fish and the bones and offal from processed fish. It is a brown powder or cake obtained by rendering pressing the cooked whole fish or fish trimmings to remove most of the fish oil and water, and then ground...
(poultry feed, aquaculture feed), fish oil
Fish oil
Fish oil is oil derived from the tissues of oily fish. Fish oils contain the omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid , and docosahexaenoic acid , precursors of certain eicosanoids that are known to reduce inflammation throughout the body, and are thought to have many health benefits.Fish do not...
, fish glue etc. Out of the total marine fish production, the percentage for human consumption ranged between 65 and 70 percent in 2006. The rest of the catch was used for other purposes, especially reduction to fishmeal. The annual per capita fish consumption in Pakistan was about 2.0 kg in 2006.
| Fishery products | Production | Import | Export | Total supply | Per capita supply (kg/year) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (tonnes) | |||||
| Products for direct human consumption | 611,246 | 2,040 | 151,830 | 326,921 | 2.0 |
| Products for animal feed and other purposes | 134,535 | - | - | - | - |
Economic role
Fish is a source of cheap and valuable animal protein for the population, and the industry makes a major contribution to the economy of Pakistan as an earner of foreign exchange. Imports of fish are negligible, whilst the value of exports of fishery products was about USD 196 million in 2006. It contributes only 0.3 per cent to overall Gross Domestic ProductGross domestic product
Gross domestic product refers to the market value of all final goods and services produced within a country in a given period. GDP per capita is often considered an indicator of a country's standard of living....
(GDP), 1.3 percent to agricultural GDP and less than 1 percent to national employment. The fisheries sector provides employment opportunities to an estimated 1.5 million individual fishermen, family members and related fishery workers, thereby providing direct support to nearly 6.0 million citizens throughout the country. In some rural areas, notably in Sindh and Balochistan, where very limited alternative sources of income are available, fishery development has contributed significantly to improved living conditions. Aquaculture is also seen as a means of filling an expected future gap between supply and demand for fish. If coastal aquaculture of high value shrimp and finfish species were to develop, export earnings would increase.
Demand
The population of Pakistan is increasing rapidly. In 2006 the population was 160.9 million. Fish production was 611,246 tonnes, of which 476,711 tonnes were fit for human consumption. The per capita fish consumption was about 2.0 kg/year, which is very low by international standards. People of Pakistan are not fish eaters by nature. Inland fish production is mostly consumed locally, and this situation is expected to continue, with the inland population consuming any increased fish production achieved through aquaculture.Trading
Fishing industry is also a major source of export earning in Pakistan. About 10% of the annual catch is exported. In July–May 2002-03 fish and fishery products valued at US $117 million were exported from Pakistan. Main importers of crustaceans and molluscs are European UnionEuropean Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
countries, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
and USA while importers of fish are China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
, the Arab
Arab states of the Persian Gulf
"Arab states of the Persian Gulf" or "Arab Persian Gulf states" or "Persian Gulf Arab states" or "Arabic Persian Gulf states" or "Arab States of The Gulf", are terms that refer to the six Arab states of Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman, bordering the Persian Gulf....
countries, Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
and the Near East
Near East
The Near East is a geographical term that covers different countries for geographers, archeologists, and historians, on the one hand, and for political scientists, economists, and journalists, on the other...
.
| Parameter | Pakistan | Asia | % of Asia | World | % of World |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Imports (1000 $US) in 2000 | 297 | 22,787,200 | 0.001 | 60,008,337 | 0.0005 |
| Percent change since 1980 | 154% | - | - | 275% | - |
| Exports (1000 $US) in 2000 | 149,403 | 16,839,046 | 0.887 | 54,570,489 | 0.274 |
| Percent change since 1980 | 198% | 403% | - | 258% | - |
Employment
Employment in the primary sector peaked in 1997 at 416 405 fishermen, but declined to 324 489 in 2006. This declining employment is most apparent in the inland sector. The inland sector is somewhat more labour intensive and less productive (177,572 fishermen each producing an average of 0.80 tonnes per year) compared with the more mechanized marine sector (146,917 fishermen each producing 2.59 tonnes per year). It is clear that the high annual rate of increase in production is not due to increase in labour force size but rather to more efficient fishing and greater market demand (to supply fishmeal factories in particular).Employment in the secondary sector (processing/marketing) is estimated to be around 55,000. A high proportion of those employed are women working in shrimp processing plants (sorting and peeling). Women also constitute most of the labour force involved in
net repair. It is clear that, the probable future need for considerable labour in marketing and distribution, the greatest potential for creating new jobs will be in the secondary sector.
| Sector | Employment | |
|---|---|---|
| Primary sector (including aquaculture) |
Marine | 146,917 |
| Inland | 177,572 | |
| Total | 324,489 | |
| Secondary sector | 55,000 | |
| Total | ~379500 | |
See also
- Agriculture in PakistanAgriculture in PakistanPakistan's principal natural resources are arable land and water. About 25% of Pakistan's total land area is under cultivation and is watered by one of the largest irrigation systems in the world. Pakistan irrigates three times more acres than Russia...
- Forestry in PakistanForestry in PakistanThe forestry sector of Pakistan is a main source of lumber, paper, fuelwood, latex, medicine as well as food and provide ecotourism and wildlife conservation purposes. Less than 4% of land in Pakistan is covered with forests.-Statistics:-Types:...
- Economy of PakistanEconomy of PakistanThe economy of Pakistan is the 47th largest in the world in nominal terms and 27th largest in the world in terms of purchasing power parity . Pakistan has a semi-industrialized economy, which mainly encompasses textiles, chemicals, food processing, agriculture and other industries...
- Asia-Pacific Fishery Commission
Footnotes
- a. Over-exploited, as total production is more than MSYMaximum sustainable yieldIn population ecology and economics, maximum sustainable yield or MSY is, theoretically, the largest yield that can be taken from a species' stock over an indefinite period...
. - b. Needs further assessment.