Find Fisheries expertise in Pakistan

Fisheries play an important role in the national economy, as over 1% of total merchandise sale was fish products, contributing 0.9% to Pakistan’s GDP (2008). With a shelf area of over 50,000km² and a continental coastline of 1,120km, Pakistan also has fairly extensive fishing grounds. The fishing sector was estimated to employ over 300,000 people in the primary sector (of which 140,000 were estimated to be in the marine sector and 170,000 in the inland sector) and over 50,000 in the secondary sector (2006).  Fisheries are the central livelihood for many communities along the coastline.

Pakistan’s main export markets are China, Thailand, Malaysia and the Middle East, exporting mainly tuna, mackerel and butterfish. However, shrimp exports are also very important due to the high foreign exchange value, exported mainly to the USA and European markets.

In 2007, total production from fisheries was estimated at 570,300 tons, 60% of which came from the marine sector. Marine fisheries are the main sub-sector, estimated to contribute 57% of total production, and, while it is largely artisanal in nature, this sub-sector is almost completely mechanised or motorised. This industry includes a shrimp trawl fishery, tuna fishery, industrial fishery, small-scale demersal fishery and a small pelagic fishery.

The inland fisheries on the other hand are generally subsistence in nature, based along rivers, irrigation canals and reservoirs. The catch profile is largely trout, common carp, and other carp species, as well as marine shrimp.

The inland sub-sector is dominated by capture fisheries along the Indus River and its’ tributaries, where nearly 80% of total inland fish production is captured. Aquaculture on the other hand is a small industry in Pakistan, largely dominated by pond culture of various carp species although the government has focussed its attention on the development of aquaculture.

The Pakistan Fisheries Exporters Association, composed of a collective of 142 fishery exporters is the main trade association in Pakistan, while Omega Enterprises, AA Khan Impex, A.A. Zee foods and AIN Traders are some of the major seafood companies.

Punjab Fisheries Department is responsible for the conservation, management and development of Natural Fisheries resources through the enforcement of Punjab Fisheries Ordinance and Rules, and the fishing industry is managed by the Fisheries Development Commissioner (FDC) under the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock (MFAL). FDC is responsible for policy, planning and coordination with provincial fisheries departments and other national and international agencies such as Asia-Pacific Fishery Commission.