Fishing industry in Pakistan
Fishing industry is managed by the Fisheries Development Commissioner (FDC) under the Ministry Food, Agriculture Livestock (MFAL) of Government of Pakistan.
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.
Demersal fish resources show the signs of being exploited, hence only limited expansion of catch is possible in future.
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.
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.
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.
The major fish harbours of Pakistan are: The shrimp fishery is very meaningful because of foreign exchange earned and employment produced from it.
Commercial shrimp trawling started in 1958, after the MFD introduced mechanization of larger fishing vessels.
The catch is then processed frozen for the objective of exporting to North American and European Union markets.
The catch is exported as chilled to neighbouring country of Iran through informal channels for canning purposes.
The deep sea resources remain comparatively unexploited because local vessels are neither suitable nor equipped for deep-water fishery.
Benthic varieties include the marine jewfish, croakers, grunters, snappers, groupers, ribbonfish and pomfrets.
Fishing is carried out from 'hora' boats - wooden sailboats with pointed ends, a broad breadth and long-shaft outboard engine.
[2] The two main types of fishing craft include: Freshwater capture fisheries are dominated by the Indus River and its tributaries.
They enforce regulatory laws that restrict catch by size of fish and establish closed seasons.
Despite its vast fresh, brackish and marine water resources only carp culture is practiced in ponds.
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.
In Sindh, the majority of farms are located in Thatta, Badin and Dadu, the three districts through which the River Indus passes.
Carp culture is practised in Dera Ismail Khan, Kohat, Mardan, Swabi and the Abbottabad districts.
Cold-water aquaculture provides a unique opportunity in the mountainous areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan.
Lack of awareness of modern aquaculture techniques and floating aquafeed had been the major impediments in development of this sector.
After strenuous efforts of FEEDing Pakistan Program (Promoting Aquaculture Sector) of American Soybean Association (ASA) and World Initiative for Human Health (WISHH) funded by United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and implemented by R.S.N.
Following advantages can be achieved from IPRS technology in Pakistan: (i) Improved fish production (75 – 150 kg/m3), (ii) Reduced production cost per unit of fish production (<30 – 35%), (iii) Improved Feed Conversion (FCR: 1.00 – 1.4) and feeding efficiency, (iv) 100% fish catch rate without discharge of water from pond, (v) Staggered stocking and harvest; culturing different species in different raceways, minimize market prices risk, (vi) Easier fish health management and production operation – minimal use of drugs and chemical to ensure food security, (vii) 70% capture of nutrient in form of feces and use as crop fertilizer, (viii) Zero water discharge for environmental protection and sustainability of natural resources.
Small-scale marine shrimp farming is carried out mainly near the Indus River Delta, and has yet to produce appreciable results.
A mariculture farm in Sonmiani was funded by USAID for developing sustainable production of edible shrimp.
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 to date.
[5] Marine fish is marketed as fresh, frozen, canned, cured, reduced to fishmeal, other purposes, and some retained by fishermen for their own use.
Products are sold into the market to wholesalers and then onto retailers and end consumers through agents working on a commission basis.
Buyers of fishery products can be members of the public, retailers, wholesalers and agents for processing plants or exporters.
