Pakistan - Fishing

With a coastline of 814 km (506 mi), Pakistan is rich in fishery resources that remain to be fully developed. Almost the entire population of the coastal areas of Sindh and Balochistan depends on fisheries for its livelihood. During 1998/99, fisheries engaged 404,500 persons, of which 113,850 were in the marine sector and 290,600 were involved with inland fishing. The fish catch in 2000 was 614,829 tons, 70% of it landed off coastal waters. Species include salmon, mullet, pomfret, mackerel, shrimp, and local varieties. About 10% of the annual catch is exported. Export earnings from fish products amounted to $149.4 million in 2000.

To exploit potential fishery resources, the government has undertaken such projects as construction of a modern harbor for fishing vessels at Kara¯chi, procurement of diesel-powered vessels, establishment of cold storage and marketing facilities, export of frozen shrimp, and encouragement of cooperative fish-marketing societies. An aquaculture project financed by the Asian Development Bank and the EU aimed to increase the annual fish catch and to promote prawn farming.