d) Fish

Candidates should be able to:

• describe the fishing methods used in both marine and inland waters, including fish farms
• give examples of the fish caught in both marine and inland waters, and of the fish reared on
fish farms
• give examples of the fishing ports on both the Balochistan and Sindh coasts
• describe the uses of the fish caught
• explain improvements in fishing methods and processing techniques
• understand the problems facing the fishing industry and evaluate the possibilities for its
further
development and sustainability.
Fishing.

There are two types of fishing being practiced in Pakistan, Marine and inland fishing. Marine fishing
is done along the coastal areas of Pakistan i.e. Sind and Balochistan coastline. Whereas inland fishing
is done in rivers, reservoirs of dams and barrages e.g. Mangla and Terbela, inland lakes e.g. Kinjhar
Lake. In the Northern Mountains fishing is also practiced in rivers e.g. Trout. In inland fishing fish
farming is also becoming popular (plains and mountains).
Marine and inland fishing are further subdivided into subsistence and commercial fishing. In inland
fishing number of people involved is more but the catch is less, in marine fishing the number of
people are less and the catch is more. The fish catch from Sind coastline is more as compared to
Balochistan.
Marine Fishing Along Sind And Balochistan Coastline.
1. Subsistence Fishing.
a) It is practiced mostly by the people who are living in small villages or fishing
communities along the coastline.
b) Fisherman and his family are involved in fishing and they consume most of the
catch.
c) The catch is less and they cannot rely on it as permanent source of income (Sea is
rough in Monsoons).
d) Fisherman use small wooden sail boats to go to the sea.
e) Land and sea breezes help to go to the sea and come back.
f) They cannot practice deep sea fishing as they can go only 3-5 km. from coastline.
2. Commercial Fishing.
a) It is also practiced by fishing communities living along the coastline. Mostly in Sind
but with new developments at Balochistan coastline it is developing fast.
b) Commercial fishermen sell their catch and depend on it as only source of income.
c) Fisherman use motorized boats, trawlers and gill netters.
d) Availability of ice from the ice factories set up along the coastline has made it
possible to fish for several days in deep seas up to 50 km. off shore.
3. Reasons for more fish catch along Sind Coastline.
Sind coastline has number of human and natural factors which have resulted in increased
fish catch:
a) Korangi fish harbour where storage (cold storage), processing, packing and exporting
(port) facilities are available.

b) Ice factories are also present to supply ice to the fishing boats for deep sea fishing.
c) Docking of boats and handling of the catch and processing facilities are available.
d) Large population of Karachi big market.
e) Industries based on by products of fish processing industry.
f) Shallow sea more food available for fish.
g) Creeks.
h) Indus delta and mangroves roots provide rich breading ground and protective
environment for the small fish.
i) Nutrient rich water from Indus River.
 2
4. Development Along Makran Coastline.
a) Gawader Sea Port.
b) Cities along Makran Coastline are being electrified.
c) Cold storage facilities at Gawadar.
d) Processing and canning facilities are also being developed.
e) Loans are being provided to small fisherman for motorised boats and gill nets so that
they can do deep sea fishing.
f) Construction of Makran Coastal Highway to facilitate transportation of fish catch to
Karachi for processing.
Inland Fishing.
Inland fishing is done in rivers, reservoirs of dams and barrages e.g. Mangla and Terbela, inland lakes
e.g. Kinjhar Lake. In the Northern Mountains fishing is also practiced in rivers e.g. Trout. In inland
fishing fish farming is also becoming popular (plains and mountains).
1. Subsistence Fishing.
a) People living along rivers and natural lakes.
b) Small catch; do not depend as a source of income/living.
c) Fish catch is mostly consumed by family.
d) Fishing only done in winters.
2. Commercial Fishing.
a) Fishing done in reservoirs of dams and barrages and lakes.
b) Fish farming in upper and lower Indus Plains and Northern Mts.
3. Fish Farming.

a) Digging, Rectangular / man-made ponds for better management.

b) Making of embankments from the soil taken out while digging.
c) Planting of trees along the banks to make them firm and lining the banks with stones
to prevent erosion. (Shade)
d) Spread cow dung and fertilizer.
e) Half fill it with water and let it stay for fifteen days.
f) Insects and small organisms grow which will become food for the fish.
e) Spread lime powder to clear water in pond and fill it with water, add small fish from
hatchery.
g) Feed the fish and after they reach a certain size they can be caught and sold in
market to earn profits.
h) There can be several fish ponds in a farm, to control spread of disease and rearing of
different types of fish.
i) Brick paved roads between ponds for transportation.
 3
Species of fish reared on fish farms.

Manaseer, Rahu, Palla, Thalla, Trout, Carp, shrimp, catfish, croaker, perch

Importance and expansion of fish farming.

a) Increase in population demand has resulted in expansion.
b) Govt. efforts.
c) Extra source of income.
d) Health benefits. (nutritious food, protein, white meat, low in cholesterol)
e) Export, earns foreign exchange.
f) Dependency on meat and cereal crops reduced
g) Source of employment

Problems in marketing of fish along the Makran Coastline.

a) There is low population along the Makran Coastline.

b) Lack of infrastructure and topographic constraints results in difficulty in inland
marketing. e.g. Turbat, Awaran, Khuzdar etc.
c) Most of the fish catch is sold at Karachi fish harbour and in international waters to
foreign trawlers some of the fish is dried and exported to Middle East.

Fish processing and storage.

Refrigerated
Frozen
Gutted
Filleted
Salted
Dried
Canned

Reasons for decrease in fish catch.

Over-fishing
Water pollution / oil spills etc.
Loss of breeding / shelter / feeding areas (i.e. mangroves)
Fishing in closed season / when breeding
Fishing by boats from other countries

Improvements In Fishing Methods.

Boats with engines

Can go further offshore
Can stay at sea for several days
Cold storage on boat
Mechanised equipment / winches
Nylon / bigger / stronger/ nets or ropes
Weather forecasts
Sonar to locate fish
Satellite navigation
Training/education
 4
More food
Healthier food / more protein etc.
More employment / more income/ less unemployment
Exports to – or of – (e.g. shrimps to Japan, dried fish to Middle East, to Sri Lanka)
Better communications with – (e.g. better roads, telecommunications in Balochistan)
More education by teaching skills
More technology – introduction of engines, machines, radar, satellite navigation
Growth of other industries e.g. Processing, boat building
Sustainability as fish are ‘free’, should not ‘run out’

Education – lack of skilled labour

Technology – costs money, imported
Water pollution – kills, damages fish, Pakistan’s rivers are polluted, mangroves polluted
Restrictions – marine fishing banned in June and July
– controls on net size
Quality – some products banned by western countries
– can be poisonous / makes them unsuitable to eat
Income – not large, delayed profit
Sustainability – issues of over-fishing

Advantages and disadvantages of developing fish processing industries in the ports of Balochistan.

Stimulates development of fishing industry / port facilities (other than processing)

Gwadar Port
Reduced cost of transport (than to Karachi)
More fresh / no delay / no need for storage
Infrastructure development, e.g. roads, power, telecommunications
Adds value to fish
Also credit the following ideas with reference to Balochistan
Income – higher living standards, better housing, jobs linked to income or economy
Trade with named country or area – more visitors, contact with other areas etc., e.g.
Middle East
Economic development, e.g. investment, entrepreneurs (with some detail)

Undeveloped infrastructure
Lack of infrastructure, e.g. roads, power, water, ports, etc.
Small market / population
Long way from major centres of population, e.g. Karachi
Uneducated / unskilled population
Lack of interest from investors or government / high cost of any development
Inhospitable climate / relief
Named pollution linked to processing
Effects of increase in urban population
Poor quality product / canned fish banned in some countries