AS the country’s fisheries face challenges and remain below their economic potential, a “Blue Revolution” has been proposed to increase fisheries’ production, and improve value-addition to drive both domestic and export-oriented growth.

“The time is right for Pakistan to launch the revolution” suggests the World Bank, stating that such “blue growth” prioritises the sustainable management of natural aquatic resources in the delivery of economic and social benefits.

The approach also aims to help workers in fisheries, aquaculture, and along the seafood value chain to act not only as resource users but to play an active role in managing natural resources for the benefit of future generations.

Urgent action to prevent the present damaging levels of overfishing could preserve the productivity of marine resources for future generations. Adoption of a national policy framework could help coordinate development, ensuring that tradeoffs are minimised.

According to the World Bank, the “National Policy and Strategy for Fisheries and Aquaculture Development in Pakistan” drafted during Musharraf’s era remains largely relevant, though it was not adopted at the time due to political transition.

The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations says that marine fishing is a significant economic activity off the coasts of Sindh and Balochistan. A marine capture fishery comprises a fleet of around 3,600 bottom trawlers from Sindh, 5,550 gillnetters working both the Sindh and Balochistan waters, and a further 20,000 smaller vessels fishing coastal waters, especially the rich Indus Delta and creek area.

World Bank warned that Pakistan’s major marine fisheries are either fully or overly exploited

Fisheries currently contribute only 0.4 per cent to the GDP, and the sector’s approximately $350 million of exports appears to be at a standstill. Comparisons to other countries in the region suggest that Pakistan is failing to fully realise the potential of its capture.

The Pakistan Economic Survey 2017-18 estimated that during the first eight months of fiscal year 2017-18, total marine and inland fish production was estimated at 482,000 metric tonnes, out of which 338,000 metric tonnes was from marine waters and the remaining catch came from inland waters.

Whereas the fish production for the same period of fiscal year 2016-17 was estimated to be 477,000 metric tonnes in which 332,000 metric tonnes was from marine and the remaining was produced by inland fishery sector.

During eight months of 2017-18, a total of 108,262 metric tonnes of fish and fishery products were exported. Pakistan’s major buyers are China, Thailand, Malaysia, Middle East, Sri Lanka and Japan.

Pakistan earned $264m, while the export for 2016-17 of fish and fishery products was 89,032 metric tonnes which earned $239m. The export of fish and fishery products has increased by 21.6pc in quantity and 10.5pc in value during 2017-18.

The World Bank report “Revitalising Pakistan’s Fisheries” says that the European Union countries, Japan, and the United States are the world’s biggest export markets for seafood, yet at present, they account for less than 3pc of Pakistan’s fisheries export earnings (about $9.3m annually).

Pakistan’s fisheries could capture a bigger percentage of these markets. However, to meet EU and US quality standards, processing plants and supply chain management of seafood will need to improve further.

As far as marine capture fisheries are concerned, the World Bank report warned that Pakistan’s major marine fisheries are either fully or overexploited. The major commercial fish stocks face considerable overfishing, and in some instances, are already depleted.

Aquaculture is largely concentrated in Punjab, Sindh, and to a lesser extent in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Pakistan’s marine fisheries are diverse, with almost 250 demersal fish species, 50 small pelagic fish species, 15 medium-sized pelagic species, and 20 large pelagic fish species.

Much of the fish landed is intended for domestic consumption, which is highest in coastal towns and cities that have landing sites.The Indus River Delta and its associated ecosystems make the coast of Sindh the most productive region of Pakistan’s marine fisheries.

Pakistan now has more than 29,000 marine fishing vessels in total. Pakistan’s most valuable demersal fisheries resources have been declining in overall abundance since at least 1984, in some cases by 90pc or more.

In addition, although landings of these species continue, they are of relatively low value, with a very large portion suitable only for fishmeal production. A Fisheries Development Board was recently established to trial new aquaculture approaches in Pakistan. The board works in partnership with the private sector to support the development and expansion of aquaculture by determining locally-appropriate and cost-effective production methods.

Given low per capita consumption of fish at home, exports are an important component of Pakistan’s fisheries sector. The most important export product categories are frozen fish excluding fish fillets, which account for 58pc of export value.

Shrimp make up a further 23pc. Exports may increase in the next few years due to the establishment of a new land trading route from Gwadar to Guangdong, China.

Imports are a relatively small but growing component of the Pakistan fisheries sector. The report suggests that Pakistan needs a review of fisheries legislation to inform the legislative and regulatory changes necessary to ensure sustainability.

At present, the fisheries industry is not itself the driving force within the fisheries value chain. Public-sector organisations need to move from being “doers” with a central role in the industry, to facilitators helping modernise a demand-led food system.

Fisheries and aquaculture in Pakistan face specific impacts from climate change. Increased intrusion of saline water in the Indus Delta is already harming fish breeding grounds.

Higher temperatures are reducing river flows, further damaging habitat quality in the delta.

Projected sea level rise and increased cyclonic activity due to higher sea surface temperatures threaten mangrove areas, which are crucial to wild shrimp breeding, one of Pakistan’s largest export fisheries.

Published in Dawn, The Business and Finance Weekly, July 2nd, 2018