Fish of Pakistan

Pakistan's fishing sector relies on marine and inland resources, with the Indus River system playing a central role. While aquaculture has expanded significantly, wild stocks face pressure from overfishing and environmental changes.

Karachi Harbour processes 90% of national fish catches.
Aquaculture output reached 168,700 tonnes in 2023.
Carp constitutes 95% of Pakistan's aquaculture production.
Marine production dropped to 0.51 million tons annually.
Indus Delta mangroves serve as critical fish nurseries.

Fish of Pakistan

The fishing industry contributes to Pakistan's economy through exports and local employment. Management falls under the Fisheries Development Board and provincial departments. The country holds extensive marine and inland waters, though potential remains largely untapped due to infrastructure gaps and ecological pressures. Overexploitation has reduced marine yields by half compared to historical estimates.

Notable species

Marine catches include demersal fish, pelagic species like skipjack tuna and Indian mackerel, and crustaceans such as shrimp and lobster. Inland fisheries target carp, tilapia, and trout. Aquaculture production is dominated by carp, which accounts for ninety-five percent of farmed output. Other cultured species include tilapia, catfish, and freshwater shrimp. Mesopelagic fish exist but remain unexploited due to processing limitations.

Seas and rivers

The coastline spans approximately one thousand kilometres along the Arabian Sea. The Indus River Delta provides vital nursery habitats through its mangrove forests and estuaries. Inland waters cover eight million hectares, including reservoirs, dams, and natural lakes like Manchar and Kinjhar. The northern Indus supports cold-water species, while southern regions host warm-water varieties. Brackish lakes in Punjab are often too saline for capture fisheries.

Fishing and farming

Shrimp trawling is a major export activity, restricted to Sindh and utilizing mechanized vessels. Tuna fishing employs artisanal gillnets, with catches often exported informally. Benthic fishing uses nylon nets in shallow coastal waters. Aquaculture has grown rapidly since two thousand, now comprising twenty-five percent of total output. Freshwater farming focuses on carp polyculture systems across Punjab and Sindh, employing tens of thousands of workers.

Today

Karachi Fish Harbour handles the vast majority of national catches and exports. Recent investments aim to upgrade facilities at Gwadar and Korangi harbours. Challenges include siltation affecting ports and the need for modern feed technologies. Programs promoting floating feed and tilapia farming seek to boost productivity. Conservation concerns highlight the overfishing of key commercial species relative to sustainable yield levels.

Where this page comes from

The facts in this overview come from the Wikipedia article "Fishing industry in Pakistan", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence. EveryFish rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.

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