A Study On Marine Fisheries Economy In Pakistan And Its Potential For Cooperation With China

This study attempts to give an overall picture of Pakistan’s marine fisheries economy, including the resource base, the utilization status, the fishing industry, aquaculture sectors and seafood exports. In addition, the study also identifies the potential and prospect for Pakistan to cooperate with China in the area of marine fisheries through building marine economic cooperation and trade agreements. In Pakistan, marine fisheries occupy a prominent place in fishery industry and fisheries economy with 11, 20 Km long coastline provide a source of employment to 379.000 fishermen. Marine fishing serves as subsistence occupation to coastal communities and has an important part to economic integration in Pakistan. The continental shelf is accelerating the progress of the national economy in Pakistan. In Pakistan, fishing is considered as traditional economic activity practiced by the fishermen residing in coastal communities.Fisheries in Pakistan can be classified as (1) the inland fishing; (2) the marine fishing; and (3) the aquaculture. All these fishing activities operated in Sindh, Baluchistan, and Punjab but. the commercial-scale aquaculture is only a recent development in Pakistan to support fishery industry and fishery economy. The objectives of the thesis are to study the present status of marine fishery industry, marine economic importance and to identify the problems faced by the marine industry and fishermen community. The material of this study was prepared with the help of local experts in the area marine fisheries and by the secondary sources such as FAO publications. Some information is also collected from the interviews with marine officials and through attending marine fisheries seminars and workshops.This thesis is divided into seven chapters:chapter 1 is based on the background, rationale and importance of the study. Chapter 2 is describing the clear picture of the marine fisheries varieties in Pakistan. Chapter 3 is explaining the history, status and advancement of marine fisheries economy in Pakistan. Chapter 4 describes the recent economic development of marine fisheries and chapter 5 is elaborating the economic cooperation between Pakistan and China. Finally, chapters 6,7 have been written to discuss, conclude and recommend the strategic solutions, how to develop and support marine fishery industry and marine fishery economy in Pakistan. The main findings of this study are:i) there is a shortage of resources in Pakistan to support marine industry, marine economy, and coastal communities. ii) Marine fishery is facing overexploitation from illegal fishing and unskilled fishing practices. iii) These issues cannot hope to resolve until and unless responsible bodies will take prompt actions against mentioned problems. iv) To overcome these major hurdles to marine fishery industry, the government of Pakistan has started a number of developmental projects with internationalA Study on Marine Fisheries Economy in Pakistan and its Potential for Cooperation with Chinacooperation and joint agreements. The government is also giving incentives to fishermen for their living and boat maintenance. FAO, UNIDO, USAID, IFAD are taking actions to support marine fishery industry by launching advance developmental programs in Pakistan.The conclusions of this study are:related i) the marine fishery industry and marine economy could grow more efficiently if government seeks mutual economic cooperation with neighboring countries. ii) China is considered as world’s second largest economic country therefore it has great chances to support marine fishery industry in Pakistan. iii) Chinese investment and joint economic cooperation are playing significant part to support marine fishery economy in Pakistan. iv) Government of Pakistan has enforced laws to reconcile the gap between marine fishery industry and marine economy. v) Pakistan should oblige proper marine fishery management along coastal zones for this cause marine policies are made to get desirable targets and to increase marine fish yield.The author recommends that, i) the recovery of the marine fishery production could be possible by adapting new methods that are linked with the establishment of a fishery industry in Pakistan. ii) And with the sufficient marine fish production and exports profits, iii) Pakistan has a potential to attain a remarkable position in the global marine fishery economy if fishery management works better. iv) Marine fishery in Pakistan requires extensive services, launching of new technologies, and maintenance of value added fishery products. v) There is also need to improve the socio-economic condition of fishermen in Pakistan...