Comment by Riaz Haq on August 25, 2019 at 10:15am

Hopes high for bumper catch in #Pakistan as new #fishing season begins. Shrimp species with the high-priced #export quality fish in the wake of heavy monsoon downpour. https://fp.brecorder.com/2019/08/20190801501944//

Pakistan is starting its new fishing season from Aug 1, as fishermen hope for a 'bumper crop' to haul all shrimp species with the high-priced export quality fish in the wake of heavy monsoon downpour.

Authorities have also started issuing credentials to fishermen for hunt in the new fishing season, which is kick-starting from Thursday, Aug 1, 2019 after a two-month fishing ban at a ceremony at the Karachi Fish Harbor. Sailing of boats will begin following prayer sessions at different fishing communities across the coastal belt of Sindh from Karachi to Korangi and Sir Creek.

"Nearly 800 small boats are expected to voyage to the seas with a hope to haul bumper crop of shrimps," President Native Islanders Fishermen Association, Asif Bhatti told Business Recorder on Wednesday, saying that the two-month ban on fishing is widely appreciated since it will help fishermen earn more catch than normal. Fishermen are 'jubilant' to voyage, he said, however, feared the fisheries market may manipulate the shrimp prices and maintain at the last year's valuation between Rs600 per kg to Rs 1200 kg.

The pre-fishing season monsoon rains will greatly help the crops flourish entire year, he said, hoping another spell until Aug 15 may add to the seas fertility to make the catch more valuable for the fishermen on the local market. "We still hope the another rainy spell will prolong the season with better catch this year," he said, adding that shrimp species like Kiddi, Jeyra and Tiger with fish species like Maya, Chind, Dother, etc, are the expensive products which catch will financially foster the fishermen at the end of the season".

The main areas wherefrom fishermen will sail for hunt are Karachi Fish Harbor, Baba and Bhit islands, besides Korangi - Ibrahim Haideri and localities around Sir Creeks, he said adding that the fishing may be unfeasible within the 12 nautical miles of the country's maritime belt because of the polluted water. "Fishermen will have to sail deep beyond 12 nautical miles as seas inside is polluted," Asif said, adding that the illegal netting in creeks for hunt of shrimps has also endangered many vertebrates and invertebrates across the coastal areas.

An official of Karachi Fish Harbor Authority told Business Recorder that the authority has started issuing documents to the fishermen a week earlier from the start of fishing season to help them avoid hustle. He confirmed the fishing season is starting today (Thursday) Aug 1 and boat may start their trips to the season. "Main operation of fishing hunt will start after Eid-ul-Azha," he said.

The country's seafood export reduced to $438.021 million in fiscal year 2018-19, falling short by $12.286 million or 3 percent to keep up with the seafood export of $451.021 million fiscal year 2017-18. In term of volume, Pakistan's seafood export declined to 195,523 metric tons in July-June 2018-19 from 196,927 metric tons in July-June 2017-18, showing a fall of one percent or 1404 metric tons. In June 2019, Pakistan exported $32.168 million of seafood, which is higher by 19 percent or $5.125 million from $27.043 million in June 2018. Seafood export quantity also grew by 19 percent or 2392 metric tons to 15,213 metric tons in June 2019 from 12,821 metric tons in June 2018, Pakistan Bureau of Statistics say.

Comment by Riaz Haq on November 11, 2019 at 9:30am

#Multinational #maritime exercise kicks off as #Pakistan #Navy ship arrives in #Turkey. The naval forces of the #UnitedStates, Turkey, Pakistan, #Canada, #Bulgaria, #Romania, #Italy, #Greece and Spain are also participating in the drill. http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/multinational-maritime-exercise-ki... via @HDNER

Pakistan Navy ship Alamgir arrived in Turkey for a 12-day multinational maritime exercise.

In a statement, Pakistan Navy said the ship reached the Aknaz Naval Base in the Aegean Sea off Mugla's coast on Nov. 9.

It will participate in the Doğu Akdeniz-19 (Eastern Mediterranean) drill which will run through Nov. 20, Capt. Muhammad Akram said.

The aim of the exercise is to operate in a multi-threat environment while providing advance training opportunities to the participants, it added.

The naval forces of the U.S., Turkey, Pakistan, Canada, Bulgaria, Romania, Italy, Greece and Spain are also participating in the drill.

“The ship will also participate in Operation Mediterranean Shield which is an ongoing operation in East Mediterranean Sea conducted jointly by various regional Allied navies headed by Turkish Navy,” said the statement.

Turkish navy vessels also participate in drills hosted by Pakistan.

“Turkish Navy ships are actively participating in AMAN series of exercises hosted by Pakistan Navy,” the captain said.

Also, the naval forces conducted a joint drill in February in the Arabian Sea dubbed Turgutreis-III.

Comment by Riaz Haq on January 29, 2020 at 7:39am

#Tourism can Save #Pakistan's #Economy. #CPEC to give impetus to maritime tourism potential of Pakistan and #Gwadar port in particular. #Maritime and #coastal tourism would grow at a global rate of 3.5 percent annually by 2030. #China https://intpolicydigest.org/2020/01/29/tourism-can-save-pakistan-s-... via @intpolicydigest

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The coastline of Pakistan extends to 1050 km along the Arabian Sea, of which Sindh province shares 350 km and Balochistan segments 700 km. The coastal region of Balochistan in particular has a number of sand beaches with “shifting sand dunes.” Biological diversity, adds to the beauty and importance of the coastal belt, where migratory birds can be seen at Pasni, Jiwani and Miani Hor. Astola Island, the country’s first marine protected area (MPA), is a known nesting ground for endangered green turtles which can perhaps be developed into a sustainable tourist attraction. The Balochistan government, in view of the above potential, has announced to build tourist resorts to cater to the needs of local and foreign tourists at an allocated cost of $2.1 million at Kund Malir, Gadani, Ormara, Jīwani, and Khor Kalmat. Karachi, the provincial capital of Sindh, is the coastal city that remains a popular destination among national tourists. The Clifton beach is a famous place to visit where camel and buggy rides are offered for families on picnic. Hawke’s Bay is another of the beach for leisure seekers who usually rent a hut to spend their weekends. The Indus Delta and the mangroves at the Sindh provincial coast also offers a potential tourism resource.
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The region presently contributes $296 billion in tourism, with states such as Maldives, India and Sri Lanka taking the lead in successfully whirling the sector into a major contributor for the national economy. The World Bank estimates that tourism for Pakistan has a mere share of 2.93 percent to the gross domestic product, compared to other regional states that are performing extraordinarily well. The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) by tapping in the maritime potential of Pakistan and Gwadar port in particular, is foreseen by analysts to provide the necessary impetus for prosperous sea-based tourism in Pakistan.

The joint venture of $52 billion (CPEC) between China and Pakistan, is a flagship project of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The latter aims to revive the ancient Silk Road via an ambitious network of rail, road and maritime networks involving more than 150 states across the continent. The grandeur nature of the project allows considerable opportunities for local and international investors to participate in developing the sea-based tourism industry. It is worth mentioning that China increased its revenues by billions of dollars as a result of coastal tourism. The two countries should collaborate on increasing tourism. China, sharing from its successful experience, can provide important insights into developing viable maritime tourism industry in Pakistan.

Comment by Riaz Haq on January 29, 2020 at 7:59am

#Tourism can Save #Pakistan's #Economy. #CPEC to give impetus to maritime tourism potential of Pakistan and #Gwadar port in particular. #Maritime and #coastal tourism would grow at a global rate of 3.5 percent annually by 2030. #China https://intpolicydigest.org/2020/01/29/tourism-can-save-pakistan-s-... via @intpolicydigest

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The coastline of Pakistan extends to 1050 km along the Arabian Sea, of which Sindh province shares 350 km and Balochistan segments 700 km. The coastal region of Balochistan in particular has a number of sand beaches with “shifting sand dunes.” Biological diversity, adds to the beauty and importance of the coastal belt, where migratory birds can be seen at Pasni, Jiwani and Miani Hor. Astola Island, the country’s first marine protected area (MPA), is a known nesting ground for endangered green turtles which can perhaps be developed into a sustainable tourist attraction. The Balochistan government, in view of the above potential, has announced to build tourist resorts to cater to the needs of local and foreign tourists at an allocated cost of $2.1 million at Kund Malir, Gadani, Ormara, Jīwani, and Khor Kalmat. Karachi, the provincial capital of Sindh, is the coastal city that remains a popular destination among national tourists. The Clifton beach is a famous place to visit where camel and buggy rides are offered for families on picnic. Hawke’s Bay is another of the beach for leisure seekers who usually rent a hut to spend their weekends. The Indus Delta and the mangroves at the Sindh provincial coast also offers a potential tourism resource.
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The government of Pakistan has sought the attention of tourists by relaxing its visa policy. It is now offering e-visas on arrival to enthusiastic leisure seekers from across the world. International hotel chains have also shown interest in expanding their services in coastal areas, including Gwadar. Forbes dubbed Pakistan to be “one of the coolest places to visit” in 2019. The British Backpacker Society ranked Pakistan as its “best adventure travel destination” and “one of the friendliest countries on earth that is beyond anyone’s wildest imagination.” Conde Nast Traveler has recently ranked Pakistan as the number one holiday destination in 2020. These developments will prove beneficial for maritime tourism. However, the government requires sustained efforts to build sustainable and viable sea-based tourist industry.

Pakistan has all the vital constituents for a flourishing maritime tourism sector. A beautiful coastline along the Arabian Sea, enriched with God-gifted marvels including beaches, lagoons, cliffs, and headlands; which are a dream come true for tourists. In the wake of CPEC, maritime tourism needs to be prioritized as an important sector that can generate viable revenues for the state. Collaborative efforts need to be made by federal and provincial governments to steer in the right direction. A public-private partnership is also suggested for the various ventures to build the required infrastructure and meet the international standards for tourists. Such actions will promote CPEC as the ‘catalyst for regional growth’ and will provide an “appealing image” of the project to dissuade all the negative propaganda, to attract the attention of international tourists and investors.

Comment by Riaz Haq on April 6, 2020 at 4:06pm

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).

https://www.dawn.com/news/1417342

Comment by Riaz Haq on April 6, 2020 at 4:14pm

Updated 02-2017 by FAO

http://www.fao.org/fishery/facp/PAK/en

Pakistan’s coast extends 1 100 km from India to Iran, with an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of 240 000 km2. The continental shelf area is about 50 270 km2. The total maritime zone of Pakistan is over 30 percent of the land area and includes some very productive areas, with rich fisheries and mineral resources. The only major freshwater input comes from the Indus River at the eastern extremity, which discharges some 200 km3 of water and 450 million tonnes of suspended sediment annually. The coastal ecosystem includes numerous deltas and estuaries with extensive inter-tidal mudflats and their associated wetlands, sandy beaches, rocky shores, mangroves and sea grasses.

Marine fisheries in Pakistan is being carried out on two distinct grounds i.e. coastline covering Mekran (Balochistan) as well as the coast of Karachi (Sindh). Sindh and Balochistan coasts comprise of many widely dispersed, small landing places utilized by small craft equipped with sails and/or outboard engines. The marine fish are marketed as fresh, freezing, canning for local consumption.

Karachi and Mekran being the most important fishing ports are being developed by the Government of Pakistan as a fishing centre.

Even as per capita consumption is rather low (1.9 kg in 2013), fisheries play an important role in the national economy. The marine capture fisheries sector contributes 359 534 tonnes (2015), about 73 percent of capture production and 56 percent of total fish production. Inland capture and aquaculture productions (2015) were 132 456 tonnes and tonnes, 151 055, contributing 21 percent and 23 percent, respectively. In 2010, exports of fish and fishery products were valued at USD 266 million and represented 1.2 percent of total merchandise trade. Recent statistics indicate that fish exports and fish preparations during the second half of 2011 increased by more than 16 percent in value and 6 percent in quantity in comparison to the same period in 2010.

Inland fisheries is generally of a subsistence nature, based on rivers, irrigation canals and reservoirs, with some 211 609 people involved in 2014. In 2014 marine coastal fishing employed over 194 420 people.

Fishing, the most important economic activity in the villages and towns along the coast, and in most of the coastal villages and settlements, is the sole source of employment and income generation. However, according to recent press reports, the fisheries sector provides jobs for only about one per cent of the country’s labour force. The marine capture fisheries comprise both artisanal and commercial scale operations. Almost the entire fleet has been either motorized or mechanized, and freezing is the main mode for processing.

Main fisheries include the shrimp trawl fishery, tuna fishery, industrial deep sea fishery, small-scale demersal fishery, and small pelagic fishery. For the marine fishery sector, close to 9 899 powered vessels, were reported in 2014, from which 32% were undecked. The marine fishing fleet was primarily composed of gill-netters (59 percent) and secondarily by trawlers (41 percent). A fishing boat census has been initiated to determine operational fishing boats as well as the level of fishing efforts in various fisheries.

Aquaculture received increasing attention in recent years. Fish farming is practised in Punjab, Northwest Frontier Province (NWFP), and Sindh Province on a limited scale, using trout, common carp, grass carp, silver carp and other carp species which have been introduced, alongside the native Indian carps.

Farming of marine shrimp species has started on a pilot scale (using Penaeus merguiensis and P. indicus) along the Sindh and Balochistan coasts, Aquaculture is being promoted by the rehabilitation of hatcheries; cage culture is being experimented in five major water bodies.

Comment by Riaz Haq on May 13, 2020 at 11:17am

Pakistan plows $87 million into aquaculture projects
Shrimp and trout farms are in the pipeline.

https://www.intrafish.com/aquaculture/pakistan-plows-87-million-int...

The Pakistan government is spending PRS 13.7 billion (€79.4 million/$87.1 million) on three mega aquaculture and fisheries development projects, reports The Nation.

The projects include shrimp farming and trout farming.

Federal secretary Popalzai Hashim said the development of the fisheries sector was a key priority within the country’s poverty reduction strategy

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Govt to spend Rs13.17b on aquaculture development
Govt has launched a comprehensive “Agriculture Emergency Program”

https://nation.com.pk/09-Oct-2019/govt-to-spend-rs13-17b-on-aquacul...

Addressing the National Symposium on ‘Fisheries and Aquaculture for Food and Livelihood in Pakistan’, organised by Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations he said fisheries sector has huge potential, but it was neglected by all the previous governments.

Dr Hashim said that the development of fisheries sector was a key priority within the country’s Poverty Reduction Strategy as well.

Recently, he said that the government has launched a comprehensive Rs309 billion “Agriculture Emergency Program”, under which three of its thirteen development projects would be executed in fisheries which include projects on incubating shrimp farming, cage culture for fish species and trout culture. He said that Asian Development Bank has also expressed its keen interest in assisting government initiatives for aquaculture development for providing livelihood opportunities for the communities living along these potential areas.

Oil prices remain low with virus-related low demand

He said that the current government has attached higher priorities with fisheries sector and introduce first fisheries policy for the development of shrimp farming, trout farming and catch culture in the country. He lauded the initiatives of FAO for organizing the event assured that government would extend all possible supports in its efforts to promote the aqua culture in the country.

Speaking on the FAO Pakistan Representative Mina Dowlatchahi said that FAO has been helping the Government of Pakistan with the fish stock in the country, as a number of communities along the coast depend their livelihoods on fisheries and aquaculture. These two sectors are high potential for livelihood, employment, decent work; for men, women and youth, and provide food security.

Comment by Riaz Haq on May 13, 2020 at 11:26am

In-pond raceway systems introduced in Pakistan

https://www.aquaculturealliance.org/advocate/in-pond-raceway-system...


Aquaculture in Pakistan is a fast-emerging sector that has developed over the last decade and has gradually evolved from extensive culture to semi-intensive farming. Lack of awareness of modern aquaculture techniques and floating aquafeeds had been the major impediments in the development of this sector. The vigorous efforts of the FEEDing Pakistan Program of the American Soybean Association (ASA) and the World Initiative for Human Health (WISHH) – funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and implemented by SoyPak, Pvt. Ltd. from 2011 to 2018 – led to the introduction of floating, soy-based feeds in the country and to tilapia culture with the Fisheries Development Board (FDB) in Pakistan.

A baseline assessment of the Pakistani Aquaculture Industry was conducted in early 2012 by a three-member team of Dr. Kevin Fitzsimmons, Dr. John Woiwode, and Dr. R.S.N. Janjua, with recommendation of action supported by Drs. Johan Woiwode, Karen Veverica and Ram Bhujel. The major tangible outcome of this program was establishment of the first extruded aquafeed mill (2013) and tilapia hatchery (2014), which were milestones in the history of aquaculture industry of Pakistan.

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IPRS technology: principles, components
The principle of the IPRS is to concentrate fish in raceways within a pond and provide them with constant water circulation to maintain optimal water quality and to improve feed management. The IPRS also has the potential to reduce solid waste loading in the pond by concentrating and removing it from the downstream end of raceway units. Water circulation, mixing and aeration are critical elements to this approach because they accelerate the assimilation of the organic loading of the pond from feeding the fish. Important components of IPRS are as follows:

White-water units are the aerating and water mixing units attached to raceways and additional units are placed in the open pond to mix and circulate the water. Using air blowers or white-water air lift devices at the inlet end of the raceway, water is airlifted and moved to the raceway and released out at the other end and into the pond. White-water airlifts move and aerate water very well, with rates of aeration of up to 170 cubic meters per hour. This continuous mixing of water helps plankton production, improves the presence of beneficial bacteria, and accelerates the rate of waste load assimilation which cannot be achieved in traditionally managed commercial aquaculture ponds.
A raceway with dimensions of 25 meters by 5 meters each and a depth of 2 meters is installed in a pond of 1 hectare and occupies about 2.5 percent of the total area. Fish are confined in raceways instead of being stocked in the total water area of a traditional pond.
The IPRS technology can achieve 70 percent of nutrient collection from the raceways with the help of its sludge collection unit. The last 3 to 6 meters in length of the raceway or cell is used as the sludge collection point or the quiescent zone (QZ) at the extreme downstream portion of the raceway where fish are harvested, and solid wastes are collected and removed there. With the help of a sludge treatment plant, the waste can be reused as organic manure for crops.
A baffle wall made from soil, fabric and fence is placed along the longitudinal axis at the center of the pond to force the water to take a long course around the pond before returning to the IPRS system head. It generates a riverine system/flow in the pond and helps in mixing of the pond water.

Comment by Riaz Haq on May 13, 2020 at 12:03pm

‘Blue Revolution’ to enhance fisheries production

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).


https://www.dawn.com/news/1417342

Comment by Riaz Haq on June 3, 2020 at 7:25am

#Pakistan #Navy chief talks regional security and tech wish list. Over 90% of its #trade is seaborne; it's a trade conduit to #China and #CentralAsia via #CPEC. Key threats to Pakistan’s security is from India’s #Hindu Nationalist mindset of #Modi. #CAREC https://www.defensenews.com/interviews/2020/06/03/pakistans-naval-c...

The Pakistan Navy, being a firm believer in the freedom of seas, has been contributing significantly in preserving maritime security in the Indian Ocean region. In this regard, the Pakistan Navy was the first regional navy to join Combined Task Force 150 in 2004. Similarly, to counter the increasing acts of piracy in the Gulf of Aden and Horn of Africa, we joined Combined Task Force 151 in 2009. So far, the Pakistan Navy has been the largest contributor to CMF operations, second only to the United States Navy. Pakistan Navy officers have also had the privilege of commanding both these task forces on numerous occasions.

While we continue to be part of CMF, the Pakistan Navy is also a proponent of a region-centric maritime security construct. Alive to the changing geostrategic realities in the region, the Pakistan Navy in 2018 instituted the RMSP to protect our national maritime security interests and fulfill international obligations in the Indian Ocean region. Pakistan Navy ships, with embarked helicopters, are undertaking these patrols along three axes: the Horn of Africa, the North Arabian Sea and the central Indian Ocean. The objectives of the RMSP include contribution toward maintaining good order at sea in our own area of interest and engagement with the regional navies to enhance mutual collaboration and interoperability.

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Progressive “capability development” is an important pillar of my vision for the Pakistan Navy. As warships are the mainstay of any navy, induction of surface platforms is essential to boost the Pakistan Navy’s operational deployability. In this regard, we have contracted for the construction of Type 054AP frigates from China and Milgem-class corvettes from Turkey along with transfer of technology. We are also inducting Dutch-designed offshore patrol vessels constructed in a Romanian shipyard.

In addition, we have contracted for the acquisition of Hangor-class submarines from China, and in the second phase their construction is planned in-country, for which necessary upgrades of Karachi Shipyard & Engineering Works Limited is in progress.

We are also focusing on the induction of modern aviation assets, including jet-powered, long-range maritime patrol aircraft, helicopters and UAVs. In addition, we are modernizing our existing fleet of warships and aircraft with upgrades to their weapons and electronic suites.


These inductions have led to expansion in our human resource capital. However, keeping a high “teeth-to-tail” ratio remains a priority. As our Navy expands in line with the recent restructuring, the induction rates have almost doubled. With regard to the budgetary allocations, our Navy, like many other navies, operates in a resource-constrained environment. However, with a clear and long-term plan for its modernization and capacity building, emerging challenges are being addressed through indigenization and cost-effective solutions.

The Pakistan Navy always looks forward to adopting new technologies, especially those which serve as force multipliers. Unmanned surface vehicles have a variety of utilities, such as for harbor defense, mine detection and countermeasure roles. We are presently evaluating this technology and will acquire it as per their suitability and feasibility to our requirements.

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