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Fishing industry: Fishing is one of the oldest occupations for people who live near lakes, sea and

rivers. They are still very important for catching large quantities of wild fish. With the progress of civilization, fishing communities started breeding fish. This is called fish farming or aquaculture and in Pakistan there are many fish farms inland using man made, rectangular ponds, as well as using protected areas in river and lakes. Marine fishing now adopted in modern development in the processing and export catch.

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.

The fishing industry of Pakistan has the potential for further developments. Although its share of the GDP currently is 0.9%, Pakistan earns 6% of its total foreign exchange earnings by exporting fishes, shrimps and other fish products. The total number of people employed in fishing is 395000 in 2003-04 out of which 125000 is involved in marine fishing and 270000 involved in inland fishing.

Fishing areas and methods: Marine fishing: Pakistan has a coastline divided into the Sindh and the Mekran sea-shores. Karachi and Mekran are the most important fishing ports and are being developed by the Government of Pakistan as a fishing centre by providing improved facilities such as an ice-factory, refrigeration plants and modern fish curing yards. There are two types of marine fishing:

1. SUBSISTENCE FISHING is when the fisherman & his family consume the fish they catch. Subsistence fishermen use conventional techniques like a traditional net and a small wooden sail boat. 2. COMMERCIAL FISHING is when the fishermen sell their catch to earn money and is their sole source to earn income. Here fishermen use gill-netters and mechanized boats. In commercial fishing, in addition to the traditional sail boat and fish nets, new techniques in fishing are also used. The gill netters and mechanized boats have made it possible in fish 50 to 60 km from the coast in deep sea water.

Inland fishing: Inland fishing is practiced in almost all river and lakes in the Pakistan. In addition large reservoirs behind dams, the lakes (dhands) of sindh and abounded river or irrigation channel are all utilized for fish farming specially dug ponds have also been made for this purpose. The main fishing centers are: Manchar lake. Kairi (Keenjhar) lake Haleji lake. Reservoirs of Mangla and Tarbela dams. River Indus at Sukkur, Kotri and Thatta.

Types of Inland or Fresh Water Fish Manaseer Rahu Palla Trout Thalla Grass and Silver (bred Chinese species)

Fish farm: Fish farms are rectangular man made ponds for breeding of fish. They have a concreted impervious base to prevent water losses through leakage. The side of the farm is edged with solidified mud. Trees are normally planted around the fish farm to provide oxygen, to minimize

water losses through evaporation and to keep the water body cool. This facilitates the growth and fertilization of fish.

Fish marketing: Pakistan has a domestic and an international market for fish, shrimps and fish products. At the domestic level the catch from marine fisheries is supplied to the local fish markets, frozen or processed fish is supplied to only a few large departmental stores in some cities. The per capita consumption is only 1.6 kg p.a. On the international level Pakistan has a market for fish and fish products. About 30% of the total fish catch is exported to 30 countries of the world, Japan is our main market with USA, France and Germany following. About 80% of the total fish catch of Mekran Coast is dried for export to the Middle East. Pakistan earns more then 6% of its foreign exchange by exporting fish and fish products.

Problems of the Fishing Industry Water pollution: The main fishing area of Pakistan, Karachi is severely affected by a variety of pollutants. Spillage of oil from huge tankers and domestic and industrial waste are causing great harm to fishing industry. Extensive use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides in agriculture is another source of water pollution Solution: A system of waste disposal needs to be developed so that the pollutants do not enter the river and the seas. Over fishing: Another problem associated to the fishing industry is the over fishing of shrimps throughout the year even in the breeding season. This limits the production of fishes and shrimps. Solution: The local government should restrict fishing activities during breeding seasons. Threat to mangroves: Mangroves act as a barrier and protect the coastline from high and low tides. The mangroves that are a breeding ground for fish and shrimps cannot thrive well in polluted in sea water. Solution:

To control pollution, an efficient disposal mechanism needs to be enforced. In this matter the government should facilitate the import of machinery for treating industrial waste.

Step taken by the government: Rs1.3 billion for uplift of fishing industry By SHAFI BALOCH July 16, 2008 KARACHI - Sindh government has taken initiatives to launch fifteen development schemes for growth of shrimp, prawns and other projects for the welfare of local fishermen worth Rs 1.3 billion. The progress on five schemes is underway and these would be completed within three to five years, said Anwarul Islam, Director Fisheries Sindh (Research and Development), at a press conference held here on Tuesday.

He said the fishing industry had been neglected by the previous government while for the first time the present regime has initiated to upgrade the fishing sector and to encourage the local fishermen and also to provide them required facilities.

Providing the details about the projects he said that, the provincial government is financing in thirteen schemes while the federal government is providing financial assistance in one project called Master Plan development Aquaculture and Shrimp Farming Project, cost Rs 2.00 billion, similarly the other project of community development is being executed by Sindh Costal Development Authority (SCDA) in the collaboration with Asian Development Bank (ADB).

Gross national product


The Federal Bureau of Statistics 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. Gross National Product of Pakistan: Fishery (Rs. million) Year 1999- 2000- 2001- 2002- 2003- 200400 01 02 03 04 05 GNP 15,163 16,546 16,377 16,625 16,728 17,490 200506 30,492 2006- 200707 08 42,668 52,391 200809 53,731 200910 56,182

Processing:
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 roes/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.

Consumption
In the world, and hence in Pakistan, fish is considered a cheap source of protein diet. In 2000, per capita food supply from fish and fishery products (kg/person) in Pakistan was 2, in Asia were 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. Fishery products consumption (2006) Fishery products Production Import Export Total supply Per capita supply (kg/year) 326,921 2.0

(tonnes) Products for direct human consumption Products for animal feed and other purposes 134,535 611,246 2,040 151,830

Production
Annual capture

Marine fisheries resources and production in 2006 (tonnes) Resources Fish Demersal fish Small pelagic fish Large pelagic fish Crustaceans Shrimps Lobster Crabs Molluscs Cephalopods Gastropods Total Biomass 500,000 700,000 80,000 88,000 8,000 25,000 30,000 20,000 1,451,000 MSY 213,000 225,000 43,000 18,000 2,000 8,500 11,000 5,000 525,500 Production 175,674 100,000 47,000 18,433 600 4,218 5,400 731 352,056

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 JulyMay 2002-03 fish and fishery products valued at US $117 million were exported from Pakistan. Main importers of crustaceans and molluscs are European Union

countries, Japan and USA while importers of fish are China, South Korea, the Arab countries, Singapore and the Near East.

Annual trade in fish and fisheries products Parameter Imports (1000 $US) in 2000 Percent change since 1980 Exports (1000 $US) in 2000 Percent change since 1980 Pakistan 297 154% 149,403 198% Asia 22,787,200 16,839,046 403% % of Asia 0.001 0.887 World 60,008,337 275% 54,570,489 258% % of World 0.0005 0.274 -

Marine group of companies in Pakistan: Premier Mercantile Services (Pvt.) Ltd. Travel Club (Pvt.) Ltd. Marine Services (Trading Division) Pollux & Castor Shipping Limited Pakistan International Bulk Terminal Exhibitions Services (Pvt.) Ltd Premier Software (Pvt.) Ltd. Cargo Link Marine Services (Pvt.) Ltd. AMI Pakistan (Pvt.) Ltd. Portlink International Services (Pvt.) Ltd. Pakistan International Container Terminal Libaz Sourcing (Pvt.) Ltd Paciat.com Pegasus Consultancy Global Sourcing

Excessive Fishing High fish demand, due to increase in population; advances in technology: accelerated industrial fisheries development during the past few years and the issuance of fishing licenses without any knowledge of sustainable stock has led to excessive pressure on fishing resources. The increase in fishing efforts results in the decline of fish catches and lessened livelihood opportunities for fisher folk. These conditions force the fisher folk to restore to illegal fishing techniques that may be beneficial to individuals but cause irreparable loss to our fisheries. The data published by Marine Fisheries Department suggests a marked decrease in number of trawlers from 1,926 to 1,604 in 1999 while large gill netters increased from 1,154 1,882 during the same period. Similarly the number of mechanized sailboats increased from 6,524 to 8,282.

Inappropriate fishing Exploitation Patterns The patterns of fishing in Pakistans coastal water is very conservative, large number of fisher folk depend on less mechanized boats (due to economic costs associated), which usually operate in shallow waters. Technological advances, where explored, have been largely limited in scope due to higher costs associated with them as well as lack of awareness amongst fisher folk communities about the proclaimed benefits there from.

Fisheries Conflicts A downward spiral of coastal and marine resource degradation, livelihood loss, and worsening poverty are occurring in Sindh. At the same time, land use practices, such as the building of small dams and shrimp ponds, has interfered with water flow and hydrological processes. Conflicts between the farming and fishing communities in the area over the availability and use of freshwater further exacerbate the situation. In Pakistan majority of fisher folk are extremely poor, earning their livelihood through catching fish or other marine animals on foot with small nets, hooks and traps. Catch including lobster, crab and small Goboids fish are caught from shallow water by individual fisher folk. Some communities have small boats with sails, catch sardine, anchovies etc. using gill nets and lines. Others have small power portable engines mounted on small boats usually

gill netters and also use long lines in off shore waters. Trawlers which catch shrimp and other big size fish such as Jew fish etc. foreign trawlers equipped with modern fishing and fish processing plants. There have been several instances of conflicts where small fisher folk are mostly asking the authorities to cease these joint foreign fishing ventures. Conflicts amongst fisher folk clans from Balochistan and Sindh, that is, conflicts for regional fishing rights have also been observed. In addition, conflicts between adjacent fishing countries like India and Middle Eastern countries are also debatable

Economic Uses, Impacts & Social Benefits Of Coastal Areas In Pakistan:

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