Country review: Pakistan

M. Wasim Khan
Marine Fisheries Department, Karachi-Pakistan
June 2004

INTRODUCTION

The marine fisheries industry of Pakistan started virtually from scratch at the time of independence in 1947. It was then based entirely on a small-scale fishery. A single rundown fish trawler was inherited by Pakistan at that time as its share of the partition of the resources of the fisheries industry of the subcontinent, no fish harbour and fish processing plant was present (Qureshi, 1961). A fish harbour was later constructed at Karachi in 1958. Subsequently the fishing fleet of the country grew considerably and has now become mechanized to a large extent. The fish production has also increased to about 522 200 metric tons of which 26 000 metric tons are composed of shrimps.

Fishery plays an important role in the national economy. It provides employment to about 379 000 fishermen directly. In addition, another 400 000 people are employed in ancillary industries. It is also a major source of export earning. In 2002, fish and fishery products valued at US$ 118.6 million were exported from Pakistan.

This review of marine capture fisheries management in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a component of the FAO’s project on the state of the world marine capture fisheries management. The overall goal of the project is to provide an informative reference to decision makers, fishery managers, and stakeholders.

Information in this review is obtained from a variety of sources, including fisheries management institutions, annual reports, other relevant documentations etc. The Pakistan country profile and management brief on the FAO website (prepared by the author) provides additional information.

POLICY FRAMEWORK

The objectives of fisheries management in Pakistan vary considerably are depending on the level of government. In Pakistan there are three levels, which have special significance for fisheries management.

• Federal government has jurisdiction over fisheries management in the zone between the territorial waters base line and the outermost limits of the exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

• Provincial governments; the two provinces (Sindh and Baluchistan) have jurisdiction over fisheries management in the waters in their respective territorial waters (12 mile zone). Each province has its own administrative set-up. In addition, several other agencies involved in fisheries and have own plans for fisheries development and management.

The marine fisheries policies of developing countries such as Pakistan are generally directed towards the achievement of four objectives, namely: bridging the protein gaps as to enhance the supplies of marine fish for domestic consumption, to generate employment, to improve the economic well-being of the fishermen and to earn more foreign exchange through the export of fish and shellfish. In Pakistan maximum attention is being paid to achieve the last objective, that is, the earning of foreign exchange, which has developed the marine fisheries industry as an export-oriented one.

The general fisheries policy is aimed for rational use of marine resources and maximizing of economic benefits. Several strategic documents for national fisheries development have been prepared by government agencies but there is no special document adopted at the federal and provincial levels which would set objectives of fisheries management policy in the country.

At Federal government level, the objectives of the marine fisheries policy are enunciated as: training of fishermen, improvement of fishing boats, modernization of infrastructure facilities, conservation of shrimps and other fish resources, extension of fishing operations to the entire EEZ, initiation of fish and shrimp culture and checking of marine pollution. The common objectives at provincial government level appear to be prevention of destructive fishing, deterring overfishing and protection of endangered species. The objectives of management at the local government level mainly revolve around assuring the sustainability of local marine foods.

In practical terms, the Federal government manages the industrial deep sea fisheries (demersal and large pelagic), in which all of the participating vessels are from distance water fishing nations, particularly China and South Korea.

LEGAL FRAMEWORK

According to the constitution, the management of marine fisheries is a fed-eral responsibility outside the limit of territorial waters (12 nautical miles). The Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock (MINFAL) is the Federal Agency responsible for fisheries. Marine Fisheries Department (MFD) is the executive fishery agency of the federal Government, with primary responsibilities for ensur-ing management and development of fishery resources in the interest of the nation. Federal government has passed following acts, presidential proclamations, rules and regulations so far.

• The constitution of Pakistan, Fourth Schedule, Article 70(6): Gazette of Pakistan, Extra, April 12, 1973.

• The Presidential Proclamation of March 20, 1973; Gazette of Pakistan, March 20, 1973.

• The Exclusive Fishery Zone (Regulation of Fishing) Act; Act No.XXXII of 1975 as amended in 1993.

• The Territorial waters and Maritime Zone Act, 1976; Act No.LXXXII of 1976.

• The Exclusive Fishing Zone (Regulation of Fishing) Rules 1976, promulgated under section 16 of the Exclusive Fishing Zone (Regulation of Fishing) Act 1975.

The Exclusive Fishery Zone Act of 1975 provides for penalties nor exceeding Rs.5,000/- and confiscation of, and possible sale, of the catch in the case of violations. Violations of the Territorial Waters and Marine Time Zones Act of 1976 are punishable by a three year imprisonment. Appleyard et al. (1981) mention that both provisions, that is, a fine of Rs.5000/- and confiscations of the catch are insufficient deterrents for violators. In the present deep sea fishing policy, these penalties has been enhanced by several folds (Box-1) to make them effective and vessel monitoring system has been established to watch the activities of these industrial fishing vessel by 24 hours.

On the provincial level, the Government of Sindh have framed and promulgated the Sindh Fisheries Rules of 1983 in exercise of the powers conferred by Section 27 of the Sindh Fisheries Ordinance, 1980. From the standpoint of marine fisheries the following provisions of the rules are important.

• 9 (1): No licensee or lessee of fishing rights shall obstruct or cause to obstruct, migration or movement of palla (Hilsa sp.) fish towards upstream, by using or setting up any kind of set net or any type of fixed engine or device at or near the mouth of the Indus or its branches at any place up to Sachanwari landing centre throughout the year.

• 9 (3): No person shall collect, sell or culture oysters within the creeks and the Indus River delta without obtaining a special permission from the Director on such conditions as are specified in the permission.

• 20 (1): Shrimps shall be packed in fish processing plants in approved packing material in uniform size, colour and shapes, and soft or spotted, shelled or spoiled shrimps shall not be packed at all.

• 20 (2): Shrimps shall be frozen at minus 40° C for suitable time to attain 0° C temperature in the centre of the body but no undue pressure shall be applied on the packages while freezing.

The Baluchistan Fisheries Ordinance of 1970 provides another example of fisheries legislation in Pakistan. The ordinance was passed by the Government of Baluchistan to: i). protect the fishing interests of the much less mechanized fishing fleet of this province, ii) to grant curing yard licenses and iii) to issue certificates of quality for processed and unprocessed fish for domestic consumption, inter-provincial trade and for export (FAO, 1977). According to this ordinance the much advanced fishing trawlers based in Karachi are forbidden from fishing within the 3-mile inshore waters of this province. Great hue and cry was raised in the year 1984 by trawler owners on the coast of Karachi and Sindh against this ordinance on the plea that they should not be discriminated against now that the fishing crafts of the coast of Baluchistan have become mechanized to a great extent.

The Baluchistan Sea Fisheries Act No. IX 1971 provides authority of fishing crafts, fishing license and processing of fish and fishery products in the territorial water of Pakistan along the coast of Baluchistan. Contravention of any provision of the Ordinance is punishable by one-month imprisonment or with a 5 000/- rupee fine or both.

The objectives of fisheries management at levels of provincial government are not as well articulated and therefore must be inferred from content. The common objective appears to be prevention of destructive fishing, deterring of over-harvesting and protection of endangered species.

STATUS OF FISHERIES

The annual fish statistics has been reviewed by Garibaldi (2002) and Khan (2002). They examined the capture fishery statistics of the country as a whole, it was noted that catches have more than tripled during last three decades (173 500 metric tons in 1970 to 614 829 metric tons in 2001) with an average growth rate of 7.9 percent per year. There is significant increase in the landing during 1973, 1977-79, 1992-93 and 1999-2000. The peak during 1973 may be due to the fact that more landings were recorded. The peak during 1977-79 may be as a result of exploratory fishing, which provides information on new fishing grounds. The peaks during 1992-93 and 1999-2000 are the result of extensive fishing by longliners and deep sea trawlers (Khan, 2002).

The total landing of marine sector increases from 147 269 metric tons to 427 582 metric tons with an average growth rate of 5.9 percent during the same period. There is significant increase in the landing during 1973, 1977-79, 1992-93 and 1999-2000 similar to that total fish landing. These increases attributed towards the development of infrastructure, exploratory fishing surveys and introduction of modern fishing technology in marine fisheries sector (Khan, 2002). Now traditional fish resources were reached at their maximum and any significant increase in fish production from marine sector depends on the use of modern fishing technology. With the present artisanal fishing boats and gears, we cannot harvest as much fish to meet the requirements of animal protein for human population in the future (Khan et al., 2003).

The total fish production of both marine and inland fish during the period from 1996 to 2002 showed that total production increased from 589 731 metric tons in 1997 to 654 530 metric tons in 1999 thereafter it is decreasing. It decreased up to 522 207 metric tons during 2002 (Table-1). The productions from marine and inland have similar trends as that of total production. The production in marine sector increased from 422 201 metric tons in 1997 to 474 665 metric tons in 1999. It decreased up to 382 409 metric tons during 2002. The production from inland sector increased from 167 530 in 1997 to 179 463 metric tons in 1999 and decreased up to 139 798 metric tons during 2002.

TABLE 1
Fish production in Pakistan

1. Estimated production.

During the year 2002, out of total production of 522 207 metric tons, 382 409 metric tons of fish was contributed by marine sector (73.2 percent), whereas contribution of inland sector was 39 798 metric tons (26.8 percent). In marine sector, out of total production of 382 409 metric tons, 255 359 metric tons (66.8 percent) was contributed by Sindh coast, whereas that of Baluchistan was 122 780 metric tons (32.1 percent) and the contribution from EEZ was 4 270 metric tons (1.1 per cent) respectively.

The marine capture fisheries can be divided into three main types, coastal or inshore fisheries of Sindh and Baluchistan, artisanal offshore fisheries and deep-sea fisheries. The coastal or inshore fisheries operate from within the shoreline to 12 nautical miles (Zone-1 of Fig.1) and are important socio-economic activity of the coastal areas particularly in Baluchistan province. The fishing vessels ranges from traditional wooden boats ranges between 12-15 meters using 16 HP out-board engine and operating in shallow waters of zone-1. Provincial fisheries department of Sindh and Baluchistan manage them. The coastal fishery of Sindh is totally dependent on shrimp resources whereas in Baluchistan it depends on small pelagic resources. Offshore fisheries depend on tuna or other large pelagic fish species. These fishing boats are using gillnet and sometimes longlines.

Shrimp forms most important fishery in Pakistan because of its high foreign exchange earnings and the employment it generates. It is carried out in shallow waters from October to March, while in July, August and September shrimps and prawns are caught in creeks and brackish waters. It is then processed as frozen for export to USA and European markets. At least 21 species have been reported from Pakistan’s waters (Ahmed, 1977). 15 shrimp species occur regularly in varying numbers in the commercial landings, but five or six species make up for the bulk of them (van Zalinge et al. 1987). These are: Penaeus merguiensis, Penaeus penicillatus, Penaeus indicus, Penaeus monodon, Penaeus semisulcatus, Penaeus japonicus, Metapenaeus affinis, Metapenaeus monoceros, Metapenaeus brevicornis, Metapenaeus stebingii, Parapenaeopsis stylifera, Parapenaeopsis sculptilis, Parapenaeopsis hardwickii and Metapenaeopsis stridulans.

The commercial shrimp trawling started in 1958, after the Central Fisheries Department (Presently Marine Fisheries Department) on recommendation from FAO, introduced mechanization of larger fishing craft in 1956. Trawl net consists of cone-shaped body, closed by a bag extended at the opening by wings. The trawl net is locally constructed from imported nylon webbings and is called, “gujjo”. A typical trawl net is operated with 120 hp engine. The net has a circumference of 860 meshes by 50 mm. stretched mesh with the cod-end of 25 mm. stretched mesh. The horizontal opening is obtained by otter boards made up of wood with iron shoes. Lower edge of the net opening is normally protected by a thick nylon ground rope ballasted with lead snickers. Other gears, like cast-nets, entangle nets, barrier traps etc. continued to be utilized particularly in the Baluchistan coastal areas and the Indus delta creeks. These shrimp trawler are operating only in Sindh coastal areas, whereas in Baluchistan, shrimp trawling is prohibited.

After the introduction of mechanization, trawler fleet rapidly expanded from three vessels in actual operation in 1958, to 450 in 1970, 890 in 1980, and 1 400 in 1990 to 2 353 in 2000 respectively. In 2002, 2 580 shrimp trawlers are in actual operation. These trawlers have contributed 22 377 tonnes of shrimp to marine landing in 2002.

Gillnet is another important fishing gear used by coastal or inshore wooden gill-netters. It is made up of nylon twine with the stretched mesh size of 150 mm. Gillnet is locally known as “RUCH” and is being operated all along the coast. The total length of gillnet is between 2.5 to 5 km and 80 meshes deep. The net may be used to fish in mid-water or on the bottom by changing its blasting and buoyancy. Usually, the fishermen shoot their nets in the evening and retrieve in the next morning mainly targeting the higher-valued commercial pelagic fish species. However, the set gillnets are also used by the coastal fishermen for catching demersal fish species like marine jewfish, croakers, grunters, snappers, groupers, ribbonfish, Pomfrets etc.

Small pelagic fish resources are being caught in coastal waters of Sindh by using surrounding nets locally known as “KATRA”, hence the fishery called katra fishery. Fishing operations are conducted with the wooden boat called “HORA” (boat with both ends pointed with very brad breath and using 1-2 long shaft outboard engines) in the depths lower than 20 m, where good concentration of clupeids especially Indian Oil Sardine exists in the form of scattered shoals. Majority of Katra boats are based at Ibrahim Hydri, Chashma Goth, Shamspir Baba Island fishing villages. Peak season is October to November and February to April. The catches are exclusively used for production of fishmeal. The duration of fishing trip is 14-16 hours. No chilling or other preservation is available onboard.

Katra nets are similar to surrounding nets, with the length ranging from 150 m to 200 m and depth 24 m to 30.6 meter, respectively. The bunt, where catch retains, lies in the middle of two lateral wings. After encircling the fish schools the footrope of Katra net is hauled-in from both wings at the same time, as such no purse line is used to enable the net to be closed like purse as done in the modern purse-seiners. However, extension rope attached to the middle of the bunt assists in hauling operations. The net is constructed with Polyamide webbings having 12 mm mesh size (stretched) in the bunt and 15 mm stretched mesh in lateral wings.

Deep sea fishery or industrial fishing, Pakistan being a coastal state declared its exclusive economic zone (EEZ) beyond territorial waters up to 200 nautical miles. These zones remained completely un-exploited and its fishery resources were un-tapped, because fishing activities of local fishermen were largely confined within the territorial waters by employing traditional and indigenous fishing boats. These boats whether mechanized or non-mechanized trawlers or gillnetters, are small in size and not equipped with navigation facilities, electronic fish finding equipments, mechanically operated fishing gears etc. In order to exploit the resources available in the EEZ, the Government of Pakistan has allowed operation of foreign flag deep sea fishing trawlers of 300-350 GRT under joint venture scheme in 1982 (Box-1). These trawlers were allowed to fish beyond 35 nautical miles in EEZ. A 10 percent royalty was also charged on the fish caught by these trawlers. Joint venture fishing scheme by foreign flag vessels was stopped in 1986 and since then only under Pak-flag are allowed to operate in the EEZ of Pakistan for these deep sea demersal fish resources by paying fixed royalty and annual license fee.

The deep sea fishing under joint ventures is a source of controversy ever since its initiation. Fishing by contract vessels has created a number of problems for local inshore fishermen. The foreign vessels have been accused of fishing illegally in the shallow waters and of transferring, wholly or partially, their catch in the high seas and reporting low catches. Occasionally the Pakistan Coast Guards and Pakistan Navy have located unauthorized foreign fishing vessels (on contract) in the inshore areas. These vessels are known to have caused damage to the fishing gears and fishing crafts of Pakistani fishermen engaged in shallow water fishing for shrimps and inshore finfish.

Fisheries as a sub-sector of agriculture, contributes on an average about 1.0 percent to the total GDP, this amounts to about 4.0 percent of the GDP of the agriculture sector. The major fisheries of the country can be summarized as:

TABLE 2
Characteristics of the major fisheries of Pakistan

FISHERIES MANAGEMENT ACTIVITY

How are management measures developed and implemented?

For sustainable development and management of marine fisheries resources in EEZ of the country outside territorial waters, Federal Government promulgated the Exclusive Fishing Zone (Regulation of Fishing) Act, 1975. Pakistan also adheres to the guidelines and Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries as laid down by the FAO of the United Nations (Raza and Wasim, 2003). Federal government has taken some specific management measures to combat illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing in EEZ of the country, which are:

• installation of global positing system (GPS);

• strengthening of VMS system;

• enhancement of penalties for violation of any provision of the fishing act.

Exclusive Fishery Zone (Regulation of Fishing) Act 1975, also have following other specific management measures:

• Under section 5, use of dynamite or any other explosive substance or poison for fishing is prohibited.

• S.R.O. 329(1): The period commencing first June and ending July is to be the period during which and the entire area of the zone within which catching of shrimps shall be prohibited.

• S.R.0. 332(1)/79: Catching of berried lobsters prohibited. No holder of a license, fishing permit or identity card shall engage himself in catching female lobsters loaded with eggs (berried lobsters) and lobsters of 15 cm or under caught; such lobsters shall be immediately released back into the sea alive and shall not be landed or marketed. Explanations: - For the purpose of this rule, the length of the lobsters shall be measured from the middle of the curve between orbital spines to the tip of the telson.

Stakeholders are not involved in management process since there is no legal basis; however they influence fisheries management indirectly. The provincial fisheries Directorates collect data on the coastal and offshore fisheries and apply to the local fish stock protection measures.

How many fisheries and exploited stocks in the country are managed?

Formally all fisheries for stocks may be considered as the managed ones. At least, stock assessment is somehow conducted, the allowable catch is somehow determined and when issuing licence or fishing permit, the gear and whether a particular species is targeted is considered. From the less stand point, real management at the stock level is not the case. Nearly all exploited fish stocks in offshore and coastal waters are under management.

Changes in the number of managed fisheries

The number of managed fisheries is somewhat increasing year after year because targeted fishing is now being started and management measures are developed. This formal increase of the fish stocks of small pelagic, particularly Indian mackerel was seen in the coastal areas. The reason for this is a high demand for low priced small pelagic in Far East countries.

What factors drove changes in the management actions, measures and/or mechanisms adopted?

The driven force in changes in the management actions and/or mechanisms is usually catch statistics of particular exploited stocks. The economic role and dependence of the domestic economy on particular fisheries is another factor driving changes in the management approach at the regional level.

Regularity of the stock assessment

Shrimp forms the backbone of the fish industry in the country and is regularly being monitored by using catch and effort data. In 1971, Marine Fisheries Department in collaboration of FAO had carried out first study regarding estimation of maximum sustainable yield (MSY) by using catch and effort data. In that study, data of total shrimp landings for the period 1959-1970 were analyzed by Zupanovic (1971). Whereas van Zalinge et al. (1986, 1987) analyzed the data of prime species for the period 1970-1982. According to the latter study maximum sustainable yield of prime species of shrimps i.e. Jaira (Penaeus sp.) and Kalri (Metapenaeus sp.) lies between 16 000 to 17 000 metric tons, which is exploitable by 550 to 600 trawlers. Whereas MSY of Kiddi (Parapeneopsis sp.), the smallest trade category of shrimp, lies between 16 000 to 18 000 metric tons exploitable by maximum effort level of 500 to 750 shrimp trawlers (Khan, 1993). If we combine all the estimates of MSY, then total MSY would be between 32 000 to 37 000 metric tons and exploited by 500 to 600 boats which is some how higher than the estimated MSY of 25 000 metric tons as reported by Zupanovic (1971). This might be due to the fact that at present fishing is being carried out deeper than that of in the past (in early seventies).

Tuna fishery in Pakistan is an artisanal activity with marginal inputs from industrial sector. As a part of national policy, for the judicious exploitation of fishery resources in Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of Pakistan, further emphasis is being given for development of tuna fisheries both in coastal waters as well as on the high seas. These fishes are incidentally caught by pelagic gillnetters, targeting on a number of mixed species, especially the more lucrative ones such as mackerels and sharks, which fetch better prices in local market. Therefore the fishery is generally confined to the areas where most of these fishes occur and not specifically in areas where only tunas are in abundance. In addition to this artisanal fishery, in 1990 Government of Pakistan had permitted foreign flag tuna longliners of 500-750 GRT for the purpose of resource survey and stock assessment as well as commercial exploitation. These tuna longliners were allowed to operate in EEZ of Pakistan beyond 35 nautical miles from the coastline by paying license fee and 3 per cent royalty on the incidental catch. Stock assessment programme by foreign flag tuna longliners was stopped in 1995, since then only Pak-flag tuna longliners are allowed to operate in EEZ of the country for tuna and other large pelagic fish resources by paying fixed royalty and annual license fee.

In order to provide realistic management advice for tuna fishery based on up-to-date data assessment, a stratified sampling scheme was set-up at KFH in 1986 in collaboration with Indo-Pacific Tuna Programme, to collect reliable information on the landing of tuna and allied species. The estimated annual landings as computed through the stratified tuna sampling programme indicated that there are good tuna resources which required sound policy for the development of tuna fishery in the country. Species composition of the tuna catches has shown that considerable landings of oceanic species such as yellowfin and skipjack is taking place by the small scale sector, employing traditional craft and gear, whose effort are confined to the coastal waters. This can perhaps be attributed to the fact that continental shelf along Baluchistan coast is very narrow (15-30 km) and deep waters run very near to the shore resulting in relatively high landings of the oceanic species from coastal waters.

Since tunas are highly migratory species and constitute a shared stock, there is a need of a common strategy to be devised jointly for Indo-Pacific Tuna fishery by the regional neighbouring countries to see that the stocks are not over exploited in any one of the regions, which may affect the share of the neighbouring country. Each member country of the region must take due care to avoid inevitable damage to these stocks. Appleyard et al. (1981) opined that it might be advantageous to exploit the Arabian Sea tuna by Pakistan and neighbouring coastal countries on a joint venture basis.

In the past 40 years a number of surveys have been made in Pakistan’s waters, including its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). However, most of these were of an exploratory nature, looking for new fishing grounds with commercial applications without aiming at an accurate assessment of the fish stocks which at that time were assumed to be un or under-exploited.

The first exploratory survey was started in 1948 by the wooden trawler named “ALA”. Whereas extensive exploratory survey was carried out in 1960 by former “Machhera” shrimp trawler. Another commercial shrimp trawler “Machhranga” also conducted survey during the years 1966-69. On the basis of above data Zupanovic and Mohiuddin (1973) estimated the demersal fish stocks over Pakistan’s shelf. The trawl stations were not chosen randomly but their positions determined by ecosounders for the better results. The biomass estimates were 45 000 metric tons for the coastal zone (5 to 50 meters depth) and for the offshore zone (20-200 meters) 92 000 metric tons.

Most of biomass estimates of demersal fish in Pakistan waters have been based on survey activities of the Norwegian research vessel Dr. Fridtjof Nansen, the USSR research vessel “Nauka”, and MFD’s two research vessels “Machhera” and “Tehkik”. The Norwegian vessel surveys took place in 1975 to 1977 and in 1983 and 1984. Survey methods included assessment of fish stocks by acoustics, supported by some exploratory trawl fishing. In 1984 the vessel also executed a number of randomly distributed trawls. The acoustic surveys yielded biomass estimates ranging from 62 000 to 600 000 metric tons for different time period/area combinations. The biomass estimate from the random trawl survey was 257 600 metric tons. Both surveys covered the shelf area deeper than 15 meters.

R/V “Nauka” carried out an intensive trawl survey in Pakistan’s EEZ in 1969. The Pakistan research vessel Machhera carried out trawl surveys in shallow waters (5-55 m depth) during 1960 to 1967 and in offshore waters (45-125 m) in 1969. The data from the above surveys were re-analyzed by Appleyard, et al. (1981) yielding estimates of demersal fish biomass on the continental shelf between the shore and 200 m depth of 504 400 metric tons based on “Dr. Fridtjof Nansen” surveys, and 682 500 metric tons based on “Nauka” surveys.

The Marine Fisheries Department in collaboration with FAO also conducted surveys during the period 1983-90, using the research vessels “Machhera” and “Tehkik”. For the first time an attempt was made to use a statistically acceptable approach for stock assessment. The survey was conducted on the continental shelf between 10 and 200 meter depth. The survey yielded demersal fish biomass estimates ranging from 241 000 to 343 500 metric tons (Abilgaard et al. 1986).

Brandhorst (1986) noted that the early surveys were exploratory in nature and did not give reliable estimates of the demersal fish resources. By comparison, he considered the MFD-FAO estimates more reliable and tendered a total demersal fish biomass estimate of about 330 000 metric tons for the shelf area between 10 and 200 m depth. There is no data base for calculating the biomass of the zone inshore of the 10 meters isobath, area which was estimated at 6 476 sq. km, and the zone of back waters, estuaries, mangrove swamps, canal which are estimated at 3 850 sq. km. He assumed that fish density in these two zones is double as compared to the surveyed area. In this way, he added biomass of 100 000 and 57 750 metric tons in the surveyed area thus bringing the total demersal fish biomass of 500 000 metric tons for the entire shelf area.

Recently Garibaldi (2002) and Khan (2002) have reviewed the fisheries statistics for the period 1970-2001. They have examined the capture fishery statistics of the country as a whole, it was noted that catches have more than tripled during last three decades (173 500 metric tons in 1970 to 614 829 metric tons in 2001) with an average growth rate of 7.9 per cent per year. There is significant increase in the landing during 1973, 1977-79, 1992-93 and 1999-2000. The peak during 1973 may be due to the fact that more landings were recorded. The peak during 1977-79 may be as a result of exploratory fishing, which provides information on new fishing grounds. The peaks during 1992-93 and 1999-2000 are the result of extensive fishing by longliners and deep sea trawlers (Khan, 2002).

Since all the demersal finfish biomass estimates have some shortcomings, few were based on statistically acceptable survey methods but they did not cover the entire fishing zone or a complete fishing year. Khan et al. (2003) concluded that on the basis of best available scientific information, the biomass estimates of demersal fish resources is 500 000 metric tons with possible MSY of 300 000 metric tons. They also emphasise that annual production is reaching at their maximum and marginal potential is available for further exploitation of these resources.

In the absence of fisheries research vessel, fisheries statistics are being collected regularly at the main fish landing places. However, the continuous monitoring of this programme requires additional manpower, electronic facilities for processing of data, suitable statistical methodology and financial support for timely dissemination/publication of the data to the concerned authorities/agencies.

Abildgaard and Khan (1986) provides information about maximum sustainable yield available beyond 35 nautical miles, which is 16 000 metric tons and exploitable for six vessels of 300-350 GRT.

The number of overfished, depleted, and fully utilized stocks

Shrimps have an almost unlimited market in foreign countries. Shrimp stocks in Pakistan tend to have the maximum fishing pressure resulting in overexploitation as pointed out by Zupanovic, 1971; Appleyard et al., 1981; van Zalinge et al., 1986, 1987. A majority of the trawlers in Pakistan go mainly for shrimp fishing. They have recommended that shrimp resources would severely be damaged if the number of shrimp trawlers is not reduced sufficiently, by 500 to 650.

According to the study carried out by Khan et al. (2003), it reveals that each species of tuna have different seasonal pattern. The peak period for skipjack tuna is from September to June; Frigate tuna April to May and from August to November; kawakawa from July to December; yellowfin from September to January; longtail tuna from August to November and billfishes from September to June. The catch per unit of effort (CPUE) is also decreasing which indicate that tuna resources in coastal waters are being overexploited.

Catch statistics of crabs have also shown signs of overexploitation as maximum landings were recorded during 1999; thereafter it was decreasing. This is due to over harvesting of mud crab (Scylla serrata).

Khan et al. (2003) has reported that conventional resources of demersal finfish are reaching at their maximum sustainable level whereas squids and cuttlefish stocks are under utilized.

Are fishery managers legally required to adopt measures to address overfishing and rebuild depleted stocks?

There is no juridical notion of overfishing in the national and provincial regulatory documents, which provide the legal background for the governmental organizations managing fisheries. However, in the Fishing Rules amended by the fisheries authorities, ban on catching of particular species until the stock will be rebuilt, is imposed. Replenishment is traditionally targeted at carp species and penaeid shrimps.

What management tools are used?

The common management measures include prohibition of fishing using destructive or harmful fishing gears, regulation on net mesh-size limit, closed season, closed area. Pressure in managing fisheries has increased in recent years and weakness in law enforcement is one of the constraints in the country. There is no regulation on limitation of the number of fishing boats in small-scale fishery sector as access to fisheries resources is free in Pakistan.

Most of management tools are based on the provisions of the Fishing Rules. For most of demersal fish stocks these mechanisms include mesh size restriction and the restriction of gear. Furthermore in lobster fishery, catching of berried female and under sized lobster should be released back to the sea.

The industrial fishing are allowed only for those enterprises, which have a special permission issued by a registration authority (MFD). In this way limited entry will be used.

In shrimp fishery, close season during breeding season for shrimp catching is being adopted, it is also recommended that shrimp trawling in nursery area (creeks) should be prohibited.

Capacity management only targets industrial fishing. Licences are issued on the basis of vessels GRT. This measure is aimed at allocation zones for different sized vessel in EEZ. It is also recommended that fleet size of the shrimp trawler should be reduced to sustainable level.

No special management plans have been developed for particular fisheries and generally this targeted approach remains poorly understood within the agencies responsible for the assessment, management and enforcement.

Prohibited gears

Absolutely prohibited gears are dynamite fishing, using of poison and drugs for fishing and also all new methods of fishing not approved by the fisheries authorities. Other prohibited gears and methods are specified for particular species/stocks and areas. For example, bottom trawl and Katra nets are prohibited for catching shrimp in whole Baluchistan coastal area, whereas, in Sindh province coastal area Bhulo (stack-bagnet), Katra (modified of purse-seine) are prohibited.

Changes of management tools over the past ten years

The main objective of fisheries management is to obtain a maximum sustainable yield (MSY) or better yet maximum economic yield (MEY). The following methods are usually required to reduce the amount of fishing in overfished stocks (Gulland, 1971). These are: i) Closed seasons, ii) Closed areas; iii) Limit on the size or conditions of the fish that can be landed, iv) Restriction on gear (to control its selectivity and to affect its fishing power), v) Catch quotas (a single overall quota and allocated quotas, e.g. to vessels, to factories etc.), vi) Control on the amount of fishing (limitation on the number of vessels and limitation on the amount of fishing by each vessel).

The current Fishing Rules were introduced in 1990. They were based on the earlier version of the rules and retain most of the tools developed in the 1975-80s. The essential novelty is the introduction of the obligatory reporting of the position and catch data to the licensing authority and mandatory installation of the technical devices required for the satellite based monitoring of the industrial fishing vessel’s position. The present system of fishery monitoring is enforcing since 2001. It implies daily reporting and transmitting the vessels position data to the enforcement agency headquarter (MSA). The resulting database is intended for fishery management and enforcement.

Has the introduction of management measures adopted in the past ten years improved the status of the fisheries/stocks?

In the past, fisheries management has resulted in several successes, in particular the recovery of lobster fishery. Similarly, a positive effect of the management (close season during breeding period) brought up the improvement of the shrimp stocks. In the last decade there is little indication that the status of particular fisheries/stocks has been improved as a result of the introduction of specific management measures. One of the reasons for this is the overcapacity of the fishing fleet, particularly for shrimp fishing, resulting high pressure of fishing which undermine management efforts.

What are the principal impediments to more effective management?

The fishery management system in Pakistan is non-integrative. The basic problem is the lack of effective cooperation between research, management, enforcement bodies and the stakeholders. There are departmental barriers to the effective information exchange between these groups of organizations. These institutions also have inadequate capacity building and financial resources for effective management studies.

Furthermore, the information on the status of stocks, fisheries and catch statistics is scarcely published and is hardly available for the experts outside the fisheries institutions, to the general public and the non-governmental organizations. The limitation of the information exchange complicates public control of the fishery management and development. To improve the feedback between the management authorities, fishing dependent communities and the general public much more information must be publicly available. This particularly refers to the information on the subsistence and the recreational fishery, their social role and environmental impacts.

In an effort to strengthen fisheries management, FAO has promoted the concept of developing management plans. Case studies were undertaken in Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand. These management plans facilitate the forum for discussion among stakeholders. Through this forum, issues in the area of management, such as information on fish stocks, state of fishing and formulation of management measures, who will be responsible for what and how the overall process of managing the fisheries evolved are discussed extensively among stakeholders. Realizing the importance of fisheries management plan, some countries have gone further to the step with legal commitment, namely by incorporating provisions on management plan in the fishery legislation.

Pakistan also needs to develop fisheries management plan because it facilitates a good forum where fishery managers and stakeholders address together various issues in the management of the concerned fisheries. Through the development process of management plan, one would be able to see the kind of information (including statistics and stock assessment), required for management, management measures formulated and options of management measures offered, as cooperative effort to enhance sustainable fisheries.

COSTS AND REVENUE OF FISHERIES MANAGEMENT

The current budget for the fishery management consists of the costs of the functioning of fisheries institutions, the cost of enforcement at sea conducted by MSA, and the cost functioning of the relevant services of the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock involved in the process of fisheries management.

In order to combat IUU fishing, MSA is undertaking surveillance of EEZ and this surveillance is costing about Rs. 25 000 per hour by aircraft, Rs. 4 000 per hour by Corvette and Rs.2 500 per hour for Fast Petrol Boat (FPB).

IMPLEMENTATION OF GLOBAL FISHERIES MANDATES AND INITIATIVES

Pakistan has ratified UNCLOS and also adheres to the guidelines and Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries as laid down by the FAO of the United Nations. In order to protect the illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing by industrial fishing vessel adequate provision has been made to prevent infringement of the unlicensed vessels in the fisheries zones of the country. For the implementation of these regulations a full-fledged organization, Maritime Security Agency (MSA), under the Ministry of Defence has been established to ensure that no infringement is made in EEZ of the country. To implement the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and Management of straddling fish stocks, Pakistan is willing to make an agreement for conservation and management programme of these fish stocks because of migratory behaviour, between the regional countries such as Yemen, Oman, Iran, Pakistan, India and the Maldives. This is necessary because management measures taken by one nation can seriously jeopardize exploitation activities of the other nations. The signing and ratification of UNCLOS had a considerable impact on the fishery management and development of bilateral cooperation.

PARTICIPATION IN REGIONAL FISHERY BODIES (RFBS)

Pakistan is a member of Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC), Asia Pacific International Commission (APIC), International Oceanography Commission (IOC) and actively participating and cooperating in the activities of these RFBs.

Recently, a two days workshop on Fisheries Management Issues in SAARC Countries for Sustainable Development in the New Millennium was held from 25^th March to 26^th March at Sheraton Hotel, Karachi, Pakistan. The workshop was organized by Marine Fisheries Department, Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock, Government of Pakistan in financial collaboration SAARC-Japan fund. The objective of the workshop was to address the important issues which have direct bearing on the development of fisheries and aquaculture in SAARC countries; various management measures have been taken by these nations, however, efficiency of some of these measures are still questionable. Closed seasons, bag limit, closed area, mesh size regulation and gear restriction etc are the major management tools in these countries, however, there is a need to learn from experience of fisheries management practices within SAARC countries, so as to adopt a rational management strategy for the development of fisheries for meeting the growing needs in the new millennium and device proper management strategies for development of fisheries and aquaculture so as to cope with increasing fish demand in these countries and also to fulfill the obligations as to comply the International and Regional Fisheries Agreements.

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS

Pakistan has special Federal and Provincial laws which regulate fisheries. At federal level, Exclusive Fishery Zone Act and the Territorial waters and Maritime Zone Act provide the bases for the management strategy at national and provincial levels. Reported catch of marine capture fisheries (1997-2002) ranged from 0.382 to 0.474 million tonnes. There is a decreasing trend in the production after 1999. Shrimp fishery is the backbone of the fish industry as it contributes 90 percent of total earning from coastal fisheries. Industrial fishing by foreign flag deep sea fishing vessel also has substantial contribution in development of fisheries. Fisheries management in EEZ is carried out through licensing, indicating exploitable stocks/species, designating environmentally friendly fishing gear and methods and by enforcing restrictions with regards to closed season, closed areas etc. Fisheries management, enforcement and research institutions have inadequate capacity building and financial resources.

REFERENCES

Ahmed, M. 1977. Species composition of the Kiddi group of penaeid shrimps landing at the Karachi fish harbour. Karachi Univ.J.Sci., 5:75-80.

Appleyard, W.P., S.L. Williams, & S. Chikuni. 1981. Pakistan: Joint ventures and other bilateral agreements in Fisheries. FAO, EEZ Programme. FAO/Norway Cooperative Programme. FI.OCP/INT/369/NOR, FAO, Rome.

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Khan, M. W. 1993. Population dynamics of Kiddi shrimp. 40p. (unpublished).

Khan, M. W. 2002. Use of Statistics in Stock Assessment. Presented in Regional Seminar on “Utilization of Marine Resources” organized by National Institute of Oceanography in collaboration with ISESCO member countries from 20-22 December 2002 at Karachi.

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APPENDIX TABLES

Current Management of Marine Capture Fisheries in Pakistan

Summary information for three largest fisheries in Pakistan (by volume) (2002)

1. Value in 2002 U.S. Dollars.
2. % values are based on totals for each category of fishery.
3. Number of participants and fishing vessels in category of artisanal fishery is of combined fishery.
n.a. = not available.

Use of Fishery Management Tools within the three largest fisheries in Pakistan

Compliance and Enforcement within the three largest fisheries in Pakistan

n.a. = not available.

Capacity Management within the three largest fisheries in Pakistan

n.a. = not available.

Capacity Management within the three largest fisheries in Pakistan

n.a. = not available.

Proposed Enhance Penalties to be Provided in Exclusive Fishery Zone (regulation of Fishing) Rules, 1990