KEYSTONE ACADEMY

FISHING:
Course Aims:

Fishing
Fishing is a primary profession as it is directly related to nature i.e. Water. Other primary professions
are: Mining, farming, forestry.

Fishing as a system
Inputs
• Water bodies e.g. Sea, river, etc.
• Labour like fishermen
• Capital or investment
• Handmade nets
• Wooden boats
• Sailing boats
• Ice baskets
• Gill netters
• Mechanized boats
• Cans
• Salt (for processing)
• Vaccinates for vaccination

Processes
• Catching or harvesting
• Feeding
• Vaccinating
• Refrigerating / Preserving
• Gutting (cleaning)
• Canning
• Breeding
• Salting
Outputs
• Fish and fish products

Uses of Fish
1. Fish waste is used to make fertilizers and poultry feed.
2. It is one of our most valuable sources of protein food. Preferred as a low cholesterol diet.
3. Oil is extracted from fish provides a sources of vitamins A and D.
4. It also fulfills the need of calcium phosphorus and iron

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Subsistence vs. Commercial Fishing

Subsistence
• For home use / family use.
• Coastal only (if marine)
• Less capital is invested
• Traditional methods are used e.g. sailing and wooden boats, ice baskets, family labour,
inherited knowledge, handmade nets, etc.

Commercial
• For sale / profit
• High amount of capital is invested
• Can go 50 – 60 km off shore (if marine)
• High catch/output
• Modern methods are used e.g. Engines, gill netters, skilled labour, chillers, nylon nets etc.

Some Marine fishing Methods:

Trawling is a method of fishing that involves pulling a fishing net through the water behind one or
more boats. The net that is used for trawling is called a trawl.
The boats that are used for trawling are called trawlers or draggers. Trawlers vary in size from small
open boats with as little as 30 hp (22 kW) engines to large factory trawlers with over 10,000 hp (7.5
MW). Trawling can be carried out by one trawler or by two trawlers fishing cooperatively (pair
trawling).
Trolling is used both for recreational and commercial fishing whereas trawling is used mainly for
commercial fishing. Trawling is also commonly used as a scientific sampling, or survey, method.

Drifting is a common fishing method used by commercial and artisanal fishers (traditional fishermen
selling their little catch) of all the oceans and in some freshwater and estuary areas. Gill nets are
composed of vertical panels of netting that hang from a line with regularly spaced floaters that hold the
line on the surface of the water.

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Purse seines are used in the open ocean to target dense schools of single-species pelagic (mid
water) fish like tuna and mackerel.
A vertical net ‘curtain’ is used to surround the school of fish, the bottom of which is then drawn
together to enclose the fish, rather like tightening the cords of a drawstring purse.

Marine vs. In-land

Marine
• Practiced in sea waters e.g. Makran (Baluchistan) and Sindh (Karachi) coast.
• Both commercial and subsistence e.g. Local market, international market (exported)
• Modern as well as traditional methods used.
• Relatively less labour is required as compared to in-land.
• But more catch as compared to in-land
• Catches are: Sharks, drums, cat fish, ray, croakers, herrings, skates.

In-land
• Practiced in rivers, lakes, ponds, reservoirs of dams and includes in-land fish farms as well
• Examples are reservoirs of Mangla and Tarbela dams, Haleji lakes, etc.
• It is used for both commercial (only local) and subsistence
• Less catch due to less quantity in reservoirs because of traditional methods
• More labour is required because:-
─ More labour is required for fish catching
─ More people live near reservoirs
─ People needed for hatcheries
─ For feeding on in-land fish farms
─ For vaccinations
─ For transport, etc.
• Catches are: Trout, Rahu, Thalla, Palla, grass, crap, silver

Sindh vs. Makran coast

Sindh
• Example is Karachi port
• It has less coastal area which is 30% of the total coast of Pakistan
• More output due to:-
─ More creeks / natural labour
─ More use of modern methods
─ Developed infrastructure e.g. Roads / railways for transport
─ Wide shallow sea (more continental shell)
─More availability of nutrients for fish in the Indus Delta
─ Better processing and refrigerating facilities because of availability of electricity,
etc.

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Makran
• Fishing centers are: Jiwani, Ormara, Pasni, Gawadar and Somiani.
• More area i.e. 70% of the total coastal area of Pakistan
• However, Less output due to poor infrastructure likes:
─ Lack of roads for transport
─ Lack of educational centers for training skills
─ Lack of fresh water for processing
─ Lack of electricity for processing
─ Lack of telecommunications to markets
• Old / traditional methods are used.
• Less continental shell / less shallow sea.

In-land fish farms

Distribution with help of a map (Fig 6.5 pg 99 of text book)
• Mostly in Punjab
─ Mostly along rivers or on doabs
• Many in Sindh
─ Many along River Indus
• Some in KPK / NWFP
• None in Balochistan
• None in extreme north (Gilgit Baltistan)

Methods
• Fish lay eggs in hatcheries where they are hatched
• Small fish are shifted to rectangular ponds
• Feeding in ponds
• Vaccination if required (when sick)
• When fish attain certain weight and age then:-
─ They are transported to market...
─ .. Where they are sold for profit

Fish Marketing
• Sold in either 1) Local or 2) International market
1) ─ In international, exported to Japan usually in shrimps.
─ Also, in Middle East and Sri Lanka (mainly dried shrimps)
2) ─ In local markets, sold to retailers
─ There are two types of retailers: Superstore (canned fish) and Street Hawkers /
local shops (fresh fish preferred)
• More catch but less local consumption due to:-
─ Expensive therefore difficult to afford
─ Not a preferred meat as chicken / mutton is usually preferred
─ Fresh fish is not available everywhere and since that is the preferred type, people are
reluctant to eat it.
─ People are unaware of its benefits due to low literacy as they do not know that it is a low
cholesterol die (good for heart patients).
─ People who are educated are reluctant because they know that they are caught from
polluted water.
─ Lack of storage facilities, etc.

Problems of fishing industry

• Lack of capital / poverty of fishermen so modern methods i.e. Gill netters, trawlers, etc cannot be
purchased.
• Lack of education so fishermen are unaware of modern techniques.
• Unhygienic environment of fish market therefore buyers are reluctant.
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• Threat to mangrove trees due to polluted water. This reduces the amount of fish because they are:-
─ Breeding ground for fish
─ Provide food (planktons) to fish
─Protect them from predators
• Water pollution due to many reasons i.e. oil seepage which kills fish.
• Lack of government attention which slows down the development of this industry.
• Lack of modern machinery so fishermen cannot go to deep sea water for more catch.
• Lack of storage facilities so a lot of fish are wasted.

Solutions / Development
• More processing facilities like canning, gutting, etc.
• Increase in storage facilities e.g. Refrigeration, ice factories, etc.
• Modern methods are being introduced by the government. For example, loans are being provided for
purchase of new methods e.g. Engine, boats, etc.
• Marine Fisheries Department has been established which monitors deep sea vessels and also
strengthens quality controlled laboratories.
• Development of Makran coasts especially of Gawadar port e.g. more storage, ice and processing
facilities.
• Fish harbor of Pasni with the help of Asian Development Bank.
• Guidance and weather information for media and Metrological Department.
• Awareness about establishing in-land fish farms through pamphlets by Fisheries Departments of
different provinces.

Importance of fishing industry

• Contributes to GDP/GNP (Gross National Product) therefore to national income.
• Fish are exported like shrimps to Japan and ...:-
─ Are thus a source of earning foreign exchange.
─ Improves Balance of Trade
• It restricts imports of fish as it fulfils local demand.
• Employment for fishermen
• Extra income to agricultural farmers who also own fish farms
• Reduces rural to urban migration because most of the fishing centers are in remote areas.
• Helps to develop remote areas e.g. Coastal areas of Baluchistan, like roads / electricity.
• It is a nutritious food with:-
─ More protein and
─ Less cholesterol
• Used in poultry feed
• Used in fertilizer industry
• Used in pharmaceutical industry
• Used in cosmetic industry

Advantages & Disadvantages of

developing fish industry in Pakistan
Advantages
• More food
• Healthier food e.g. More protein, etc.
•More exports e.g. Fish to Japan, dried fish to Middle East, etc.
• Better communication e.g. Better roads and telecommunications in Baluchistan so better
infrastructure
• More education by teaching skills
• More technology e.g. Introduction of engines, machines, etc.
• Growth of other industries like processing and boat building
• Sustainability as fish are ‘free’ thus should not run out.

Disadvantages
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• Lack of skilled labour due to high illiteracy

• Technology costs money as it has to be imported, and as Pakistan is a developing country
• Water pollution – kills, damages fish, Pakistan Rivers are polluted, mangroves
Polluted.
• Restricted – marine fishing banned in June and July (only seasonal employment)
• Some products banned by western countries ...:-
─ .. As they are caught from polluted water.
─ .. Can be poisonous / makes them unsuitable to eat.
• Income – not large, delay of profit (not very profitable)
• Sustainability – especially issue of over-fishing.

Recent developments in Fishing:

Following articles will be helpful
https://www.worldfishing.net/news101/regional-focus/pakistan2

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fishing_in_Pakistan

http://www.pakistanfishing.com/fishing-info/fishing-industry-in-pakistan

Exam Style Questions to be practiced:

1. Maps: Fig 6.2 pg 97(Location), Fig 6.7 pg99 (Describe/Explain the distribution)
Note Questions from this chapter are often linked with Mangrove Forests (Chapter 4) and
Poultry feed Livestock (Chapter 7 Agriculture)
2. Name of fresh water/ marine catch/ fishing centers (marine)
3. Graph based questions, why is there increase/ fall in fish production.
4. To what extent is it possible to develop fishing industry in Baluchistan/ Pakistan?
5. Why are there no fish farms in Baluchistan ?

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