ISLAMABAD: A comprehensive assessment of Pakistan’s fisheries resources carried out by UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) concludes that these resources are very productive but over-exploited and not managed scientifically.

The assessment report was presented to Federal Minister for Ports and Shipping, Hasil Khan Bizenjo here on Monday at the final meeting of the ‘Fisheries Resource Appraisal in Pakistan’ project.

The appraisal was initiated in 2008 through a unilateral project of FAO and the then Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock.

A clear trend for all commercial species which emerged from the assessment is that they are being seriously over-fished and ‘long-term viability of the resource is in jeopardy’.

The current assessment encompasses data from previous surveys carried out in 1970s, 1980s and 1990s as well as in-depth surveys conducted from 2009 through 2015. The assessment report proposed that fishing should be curtailed by fifty per cent, a measure that will result in doubling of the economic value of the fisheries resources. It also emphasised that regulation of fishing efforts is essential and overfishing needs to be reduced.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Bizenjo welcomed the FAO assessment report and stated that fishermen need to be involved in the efforts aimed at improving the situation of marine fisheries resources in Pakistan. FAO Representative in Pakistan, Patrick Evan presented the overview of the assessment.

The assessment report recommended implementation of fisheries management information system; conducting socio-economic research to reduce fishing by 50pc; develop co-management approach with fishing communities and establish effective fishery management enforcement.

Published in Dawn, January 10th, 2017