INTRODUCTION

Fishery plays an important role in the national economy. The marine fisheries sector
is the main component, contributing about 57 percent in terms of production.  Fishery
is the most important economic activity in the villages and towns along the coast, and
in most of the coastal villages and settlements it is the sole source of employment and
income generation. It is one of the oldest occupations for people who live near lakes,
rivers and sea. Despite the very low contribution to the GDP of Pakistan of about
0.4% in 2009, which did not increase much in 2011 and was around 0.5% to 1%, it is
a major of exports earnings in Pakistan.
 METHODS OF FISHING:

Commercial Fishing: 
In commercial fishing the fish is sold in the market. The Sindh coast is more
important and accounts for nearly 68% of total marine catch. Modern trawlers
and mechanized boats have made it possible to fish 50-60 km from the coast in
deep-sea waters. In Karachi the government has developed Korangi fish harbor
where storage and packing facilities are available to fisherman.
Inland Fishing:
 Inland fishing is practiced in almost all the rivers and lakes in the country. A
number of fish farms have been spread throughout Punjab, Sindh and a few
areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Fish Farms/Aquaculture:
 It involves artificial breeding of several species of fish. Although Pakistan has
not been able to develop the sector so much due to non-availability of low cost
feed, non-existent fish farming technology and inappropriate knowledge.
 HISTORY
  FISHER INDUSTRY FROM 1950-2017:

Source : International Journal of the fisheries and Aquatic

Studies
 GEOGRAPHY
OF THE
INDUSTRY

Pakistan is having 1,120 km of

coastline covering Mekran
(Balochistan) as well as the coast of
Karachi (Sindh) and a total fishing area
of approximately 300,270 sq km. The
major fish harbors of Pakistan are
Karachi Fisheries Harbor, Korangi Fish
Harbor, Pasni Fish Harbor and Gwadar
Fish, Karachi Fisheries Harbor it
handles about 90% of fish and seafood
catch with 95% of its fish products
exports from Pakistan. 

(Source: Fisheries Sector in Pakistan – Outlook and

Guidelines)
FISHERY SITES IN
PAKISTAN

The following map shows

various components of 
fisheries industry available as
of under Fisheries
Development Board.
 INFRASTRUCTURE AND PORT FACILITIES:
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 organizations that are part of different projects or research and development for industry, fisheries and aquaculture
are:
  Karachi Fish harbor- This is the biggest and oldest harbor in Pakistan and handles about 90% of fish and about 95%
of fish exports.  

 This is operated by the Provincial Government of Sindh.

  Korangi Fish Harbor- This is again managed by Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock.
 Pasni Fish Harbor- This is operated by Provincial Government of Balochistan.
 Gawadar Fish Harbor- This is operated by Federal Ministry of Communication.
 EMPLOYMENT GENERATION
• Fishery industry employs over a million of people either directly or indirectly.
• Largely employs women.
SWOT ANALYSIS
STRENGTH
• Diversified product offering
• Convenient bulk sales delivered to Market
• Less labor intensive than other agriculture
• Improved food security- ready protein source
• Can engage in wholesaling, trading services
• Low start up and operating costs
• No construction and less training required
WEAKNESS

• Small scale- no chain power

• Low profits-high buying and low selling

prices

• Expensive storage and refrigeration costs

• Expensive transportation- no delivery

• No Infrastructure
 OPPORTUNITIES
• Fisheries Department working along on,
Research & Development, Hatcheries
(artificial Farming) & Trainings

• Increased local government financial support.

• More youth economic participation in market
• More fish farmers- more customers
 THREATS
• Fish shortage
• Poor hygiene in the market & transportation
• Increased competition in International
markets
• Customs and port Delays
• Climate change
 PESTLE ANALYSIS
• Political Influences

• Economical Impact:
fisheries play an important role in the economy of Pakistan by employing 400,000 people
directly and another 600,000 in different sectors. Fisheries currently contribute only 0.4 per
cent to the GDP, and the sector's approximately $350 million of exports appears to be at a
standstill. Pakistan earned $264m. The very poor often rely on fishing as a primary source of
income. Sustainable, productive fisheries and aquaculture improve food and nutrition security,
increase income and improve livelihoods, promote economic growth and protect our
environment and natural
• Sociological:

The population of Pakistan is increasing rapidly. In 2006 the population was 160.9 million. Fish production was
611 246 t, of which 476 711 t were fit for human consumption. The per capita fish consumption was about 2.0
kg/yr, which is very low by international standards. Pakistanis 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.

• Technological:
The government’s strategy is to increase national fish supply based on sustainable production and improved
marketing of aquatic products, built around thefollowing three fundamental axes:

• Sustainable development of aquaculture production (inland and coastal)

• Sustainable increase in inland and marine capture fisheries production
• Resolving post-harvest constraints (handling, storage, value-adding, marketing and
transport)
Legal:
The new national fisheries policy, the government is looking into such factors as over-
fishing , use of illegal nets, destruction of mangroves and pollution caused by industrial
and domestic waste. Contravention of this ordinance is punishable by imprisonment of up
to six months or fines of up 10,000 rupees or both. A provision has also been made for a
total ban on the use of destructive fishing gears as well as a closed season for the catching
of shrimp during June and July.

• Environmental
 PROBLEMS OF THE INDUSTRY:

• Water Pollution
• Over-fishing
• Thread to Mangroves
• Weak infrastructure
• Lack of Knowledge
• Traditional Methods
• Post Harvest losses:
 RECOMMENDATIONS
There should be strict laws imposed to avoid overfishing. Fishermen should be
given a specific quota of how much they can fish per day and it should be checked
strictly that all the fishermen are following the laws by either counting the
fisheries or weighing them. Foreign trawlers should be restricted in the fishing
zones which are exclusively for Pakistan. Navy should take direct action for any
foreign trawlers entering.
• Awareness should be created amongst the fishermen about the concept of luck
and productivity of our waters. They should stop blaming luck for the lack of
production and should start believing that our waters have lost the productivity
that it once had years ago.

• Government should come up with specific methods for stock assessment to atleast
give a close approximation about our fish stock.
• Pakistan should immediately work on solving Indo-Pak water issues. This is
because until they are solved, Pakistan’s rivers will go on degrading affecting
our
fish production and breeds appreciably.

• Inland and Marine eco-systems should be protected. Extinct fisheries should

be
attended to and their catch must be stopped. For incidents like oil spills,
government should take immediate action to stop the contamination of our
waters
and hence, the fisheries.

• For post harvesting losses, processing facilities should be readily available.

Transport should be readily available to ensure that the fisheries are processed
with one hour to maintain their freshness.
• Aids and subsidies should be given to the fishermen so that they can atleast
cover their costs like diesels and net costs which are exceptionally high.

• Facilities should be given to the fishermen for improvement of their

condition.
They should be ensured security and health facilities. They should not be
mistreated by the government. Their returns must be increased.