The Fishing Industry
Introduction
Fishing is a given occupation for those living near rivers, lakes, and oceans.
As time progressed, people began breeding fish, in a process called fish farming or
aquaculture.
Although the share of GDP is only 0.9%, fishing and the exports of fish/shrimp accounts
for 6% of the total foreign exchange.
Fishing is the main occupation along the coast of Sindh (not Karachi) and Balochistan.
The total # of people employed in fishing is 395,000 (2003-2004)
- 125,000 in marine
- 270,000 inland
However, marine fishing brings in 3X more than inland due to better quality fish and
fishing techniques.
Fishing Areas and Methods
MARINE
Pakistan’s coastline is divided into the Sindh (30%) and Makran (70%) coastlines.
In Sindh, the main fishing center is Karachi. On the Makran Coast, fishing ports
are small and often no bigger than villages like Sonmiani and Jiwani. Gwadar is
the most important fishing port on this coast. It is being developed as a fishing
center by developing an ice factory, refrigeration plants, and modern fishing
techniques.
Ormara and Pasni are also being developed.
Types of Marine Fishing
1. Subsistence Fishing
When fishermen and their families consume the fish they catch. Some
communities on the coast engage in this farming and fish comprises of most of
their diet.
The fish that are caught are usually small and less, hence cannot be sold to earn a
permanent source of income.
Techniques are older, such as nets or small boats that do not go out too far into
sea.
Types of Marine Fishing
2. Commercial Fishing
This is when the fish are sold in the markets. A number of communities depend on
this as their main source of income. There are two main centers: Karachi and
Gwadar. The Sindh coastline accounts for 68% of total marine catch.
In addition to old techniques, newer techniques in fishing, such as gil-netters and
mechanized boats are used. This has made it possible to sail 50-60 km from the
coast. Traditional sailboats can only go 5 km.
commercial
subsistence
Development
Sindh
1. It has numerous creeks,
sheltered harbors, and shallow
waters
2. A wider continental shelf than
Makran
3. Better export and processing
facilities
4. The Indus Delta is rich in fish
food due to the draining of the
Indus River
Types of Fish
1. Sharks
2. Catfish
3. Croakers
4. Drums
5. Shrimp
6. Rays
7. Sardine
8. Mackerel
9. Herring
Fishing Areas and Methods
INLAND
It is practiced in almost all the rivers and lakes of a country. In addition, reservoirs
behind dams and abandoned irrigation canals are used for fish farming. Artificially
made ponds can be used as fish farms as well.
FISH FARMS
These are rectangular, grid-like, man-made
ponds for the breeding of fish. They have a
concrete base to prevent water losses. The
side of the farm is solidified with mud.
Trees are normally planted around the
pond to supply oxygen, to minimize water
losses through evaporation, and keep the
water cool.
Fish: Manaseer, Rahu, Palla, Thalla, Trout,
Carp, shrimp, catfish, croaker, perch
Government Efforts to Develop Fisheries
The govt is trying to improve fisheries by..
- Introduction of new fishing methods
- Development of value-added (the amount by which the value of an article is increased) such as
canned or frozen fish by providing better fish processing facilities
- Weather information for the fisherman through broadcasting services
- The creation of the Marine Fisheries Department (MFD) which develops
projects, eg. monitoring deep sea fishing vessels, strengthening quality
control laboratories, and improving labs in requirement of the World Trade
Organization (WTO)
Benefits of the Fish Market
- Greater return to fishermen
- More employment
- New technological skills will increase fish market
- Better foreign exchange (30% of the total fish is exported to 30 countries;
80% of the total fish catch in Makran is dried to export to the Middle East)
- Reduces burden on crop and livestock → source of food
- Healthy, high protein food
Problems of the Fishing Industry
1. Water Pollution
Pollution along the coast is mainly limited to Karachi, which is severely affected by
pollutants. Spillage of oil from ships and domestic/industrial waste is causing great
harm. Studies have shown that marine life has carcinogenic chemicals, toxins, and
heavy metals such as cadmium, aluminum, and nickel. These enter our food
supply and can enter our diet.
Pollution also takes place along the rivers of Pakistan which drain into the sea.
Pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers are washed away into our water supplies.
480mn gallons
of polluted
water flowing
into Karachi sea
daily
Problems of the Fishing Industry
2. Overfishing
This happens especially with shrimps, where people continue fishing in the
breeding season and this leads to fewer shrimps overall.
3. Mangrove Threat
Mangroves protect the coast from high and low tides, while also acting as a
breeding ground for fish-shrimp
4. Financial Constraints
Pakistan does not have enough capital to invest and modernize fishing. Fishing is
therefore done on traditional lines, resulting in less output. This also leads to
restrictions being placed by developed countries on its fish exports. Unreliable
income from exports and low profits → less investment
