PAKISTAN SEAFOOD
FISHERIES IN PAKISTAN
Pakistan’s total fisheries production is 0.79 million tons. The total marine production in Pakistan is 0.51 million tons and total inland production is 0.28 million tons. Pakistan stands at 33rd position in world with respect to fisheries production. There are about 70 commercial species of fish including Sardine, Hilsa, Shark, Mackerel, Butterfish, Pomfret, Sole, Tuna, Sea Bream, Jew Fish, Cat Fish and Eel. Pakistan is 46th exporter of fish in the world. Some of the value added products of fish are fish cutlet, fish sev, fish wada, fish kheema etc.
Marine Fisheries
- Pakistan’s Coastline is more than 1000 Kilometers long
- Pakistan’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) covers an area of 240,000 sq. Km
- The Maritime Zone of Pakistan extends up to 350 nautical miles from the coastline.
- A number of about 300,000 people are directly employed to the Sector
Harbour and Boats
- The Sector has a fleet of 14000 Boats of small, medium and large vessels
- There are total four Sea harbors (two in Karachi and two in Balochistan)
- Fishing is provincial subject and Karachi Fisheries Harbor (KFH); which handles about 90 percent of Pakistan seafood catch, is controlled/managed by KFHA-an authority of Sindh Government.
Species found in Pakistan
- Although more than 1,500 types of finfish and shellfish are found along the Pakistan coast, about 200 species are commercially harvested.
- Shrimp is the most important commodity which is mainly exported. Among other shellfish, crab, lobster, squid, cuttlefish and mollusk are important.
- Among finfish, many species are caught which includes sardines, croakers, snappers, pomfrets, sharks, catfish, barracudas, river shad and eels.
Harbour and Boats
- The Sector has a fleet of 14000 Boats of small, medium and large vessels
- There are total four Sea harbors (two in Karachi and two in Balochistan
- Fishing is provincial subject and Karachi Fisheries Harbor (KFH); which handles about 90 percent of Pakistan seafood catch, is controlled/managed by KFHA-an authority of Sindh Government.
Types of Fish Found in Pakistan
- Theila (Catla Catla)
- Rohu (Labeo Rohita)
- Kalbans (Labeo Callasu)
- Mirgal Mori (Cirrhina Mrigala)
- Mahaseer (Barbus Eputitora)
- Trout (Salmo Spp)
- Mullee (Wallago Attu)
- Chinese Grass Corp (Ctenopharyngoden Idellus)
- Murrel (Ophicephalus Morulium)
- Bhor (Barbut Tor)
Top Fish Species Exported
- Sardines
- Croakers
- Snappers
- Pomfrets
- Sharks
- Catfish
- Barracudas
- River Shad And Eels
Top Exporting Markets for Fish
King Fish Surmaey
- King Mackerel has mild-sweet tasting flesh with a firm texture, moderate fat, and large, circular flakes when cooked.
- The flesh has a beautiful pinkish white color and remain white when cooked.
- It is caught using gillnets and hook lines.
Javelin Dothar
- If you are a seasoned seafood lover, you must have with a very strong fan following. It is a highly seasonal fish that’s abundant from February to September.
- It looks and feels the same as snapper and emperor but has a slightly thicker and dense body.
- Commonly it is used for curry along with pieces of heads included but it is as good as for frying. Because of its large head as compared to the body, the meat yield is very low as compared to other fish.
Saram Fish
- Queen fish – Saram is a low-budget fish that is commonly used by fish fry joints and caterers. Queen fish is one of the large fish that is flat in appearance and hence yield beautiful fillet and boneless biscuits.
- Health benefits: Good for skin and heart. A good dietary source of vitamin D. It provides you with a healthy fat. Healthy fat is necessary for your body because it acts as a protective barrier.
- Queen fish – Saram is one of the abundant and commercially most used fish in Pakistan.
Pomfret Fish
- Pomfrets are perciform fishes belonging to the family Bramidae. The family currently includes 20 species across seven genera.
- BENEFITS: Pomfret has a light texture and sweet, rich flavour. It has a high content of good fats, thereby getting the name, butterfish. It is a great source of calcium, vitamins A and D, and B vitamins, including Vitamin B12, vital for the nervous system. It also offers iodine, critical for the thyroid gland.
Tuna Fish
- A tuna is a saltwater fish that belongs to the tribe Thunnini, a subgrouping of the Scombridae (mackerel) family.
- The Thunnini comprise 15 species across five genera, the sizes of which vary greatly, ranging from the bullet tuna up to the Atlantic bluefin tuna which averages 2 m (6.6 ft) and is believed to live up to 50 years.
Mackeral
- There are more than 30 different types of mackerel in the family tree, consisting of three distinct branches–
- The Scombroid, or true mackerels,
- The Scromberomorini, or Spanish mackerel, and those in the Carangidae, Heagrammidae, and Gempylidae families, or “other” mackerel.
Red Snipper
- The northern red snapper (Lutjanus campechanus) is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a snapper belonging to the family Lutianidae. It is native to the western Atlantic Ocean, the Caribbean Sea, and the Gulf of Mexico, where it inhabits environments associated with reefs.
- Is red snapper a good fish to eat? It has a sweet, mild but unique flavor. It has a peculiarly fresh, almost nutty flavor. Red snapper flesh is considered delicious, and the throats are considered a delicacy. It is one of the most sought-after offshore fish.
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