Fishing Industry

Fishing industries started breeding fish. This is called fish farming or ‘aquaculture’.
There are many inland fish farms using man made rectangular ponds as well as using
protected areas in rivers and lake.
GDP is 0.9 %. Pakistan earns 6 % of its total foreign exchange earnings by exporting fish,
shrimps and fish products. Fishing is the main occupation in the coastal settlements of
Sindh (except Karachi) and Baluchistan. Total number of people employed in fishing is
395,000 (2003 – 2004), out of which 125,000 (31.6%) are engaged in marine fishing and
270,000 persons (68.4%) in inland fishing.

Fishing Areas and Methods

Marine Fishing
The Sindh coast is 30 % of the coastline and the Makran coast is 70%. Karachi is the main
fishing centre. On the Makran coast fishing ports are small, often no more than villages
like Sonimiani and Jiwani. Gwadar is the most important fishing port on the coast. It is
being developed as a fishing centre by providing improved facilities such as an ice
factory, refrigeration plants and modern fish curing yards. Improvements are also being
made at Ormara and Pasni.

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There are two types of marine fishing:

A. Subsistence Fishing
It is when the fisherman and his family consume the fish they catch. Fisherman uses conventional
techniques like the traditional net, a small wooden sail boat which does not travel far out to sea.
Fish catch is also nominal and cannot be relied as a permanent source of income.
B. Commercial Fishing
The fish sold in the market. There are two main centres of commercial fishing,
Karachi and Gwadar. Sindh coast accounts for nearly 68 % of the total marine catch.
Factors that account for the development of fishing along the Sindh coast.
 It has numerous creeks, shattered harbors and a wide shallow sea beyond.
 It has the advantage of a wider continental shelf than the Makran coast.
 The indus delta is rich in fish food much of which is brought down to the delta
by the River Indus.
 It has better export and processing facilities.
New techniques in fishing are also in use. The gill-netters are mechanized boats have
made it to possible to fish 50 – 60 Km from the coast in deep sea waters. Traditional sea
boats can only go up to 5 km off the shore.
The government has developed the Korangi fish harbor where storage and packing
facilities are available to fisherman.

Types of Marine Fish Catch

Sharks Cockroaches Skates
Drums Cat fish Rays

Makran coast developed with improved facilities e.g. docking of sail boats, handling of
catch preservation and storage. Although the Baluchistan sea-water is rich in fish
because of their conventional methods.

Inland Fishing
Inland fishing is practiced in almost all the rivers and lakes. In addition, the large resvoirs
behind dams, the lakes (dhands) of Sindh and abandoned river or irrigation channels are
all utilized for fish farming.

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 Types of Inland or Fresh Water Fish
 Manaseer
 Rahu
 Grass, Silver – Chinese species of Carp
 Palla
 Trout
 Thalla

Fish Farm
Fish farms are rectangular man made ponds for breeding of fish. They have a concrete
or cemented 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 farms to
provide oxygen, to minimize water losses through evaporation and to keep the water
body cool. This facilitates the growth and fertilization of fish.
The main fishing centres are:

 Manchar Lake in Dadu District

 Kairi (Keenjhar) Lake north of Thatta
 Haleji Lake west of Thatta
 Reservoirs of Mangla and Tarbela Dams
 River Indus at Sukker, Kotri & Thatta

Government’s Effort to Develop Fisheries

 The introduction of new fishing methods
 The development of value-added products such as canned or frozen fish by
providing fish processing facilities.
 Guidance and weather information for the fisherman
 The execution of development projects by the Marine Fisheries Department
(MFD) such as ‘Monitoring of Deep Sea Fishing Vessel’, ‘Strengthening of
Quality Control Laboratories’ and additional improvements in MFD labs in view
of WTO’s [World Trade Organizations] requirements.

Fish Marketing
Pakistan has a domestic and an international market for fish, shrimps and fish products.
Domestic level the catch from marine fisheries is supplied to the local fish markets.
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About 30% of the total fish catch is exported to 30 countries of the world. Japan is the
main market for fish and shrimps. USA, UK and France are other markets. Pakistan earns
more than 6% of its total foreign exchange by exporting fish and fish products.

The Exported Socio Economic Benefits of Developing

Fish Farming
 Greater return to fisherman
 Increased employment
 Use of technology and upgrading of skills will increase fish products.
 Favorable impact on foreign exchange earning
 Reduces burden on crop and livestock

Fish Farming and Environment

 Effects on Ecosystem: The term ecosystem means a community of plants and
animals within a physical environment, or habitat.
 Land – based farms have brought about ecological changes and have affected
surrounding areas.
 Coastal wet lands are considered productive areas because they provide
nutrients to the organisms living in marshy lands.
 Chemical Pollution: Effluents from fish farms may contain chemicals used for
disinfecting and controlling diseases, pests and predators.
Fish farming or Aquaculture positive effects on the environment:

 Recycling Wastes:The aquaculture helps in the recycling of domestic and farm

wastes.Animal wastes are considered a good organic fertilizers. Domestic wastes
and human sewages can be used for fish farming.

Problems of the Fishing Industry

1. Water Pollution
Chemicals with Carcinogenic qualities, toxic materials and heavy metals including
cadmium, aluminum and nickel affects the rivers of Pakistan and agriculture.
2. Over Fishing
Breeding season
3. Threat to Mangroves
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 4. Lack of Financial Resources
Sustainable Fisheries
 Overfishing
 Catching of baby fish
 The use of illegal nets
 The destruction of mangroves
 Water pollution caused by industrial, domestic waste resulting in the extinction
of fish species.
Government factors into consideration and should:
 Not allow foreign deep sea trawlers to operate in the area of the Arabian Sea.
 Implementing the laws banning the use of illegal nets
 Maintain the ecological balance by strict enforcement of laws against the cutting
of mangrove forests and water pollution
The development could result in following advantages:

 The provision of more food, low cholesterol, vitamin D and other nutrition
 An increase in employment opportunities
 An increase in foreign exchange
 The training and education of fisherman by teaching modern technological skills
such as satellite navigation, the use of shoats for locating fish etc.
 The development of industries such as boat making industry, net making
industry, fish processing industries, salting, canning refrigerating, packing etc.
 An improvement in infrastructure facilities such as roads, electricity supply etc.