Steps being taken to improve fisheries sector

The government is taking a number of steps to improve the country's fisheries sector.
According to official sources, these steps include strengthening of extension services, introduction of new fishing methodologies, development of value-added products, enhancement of per capita consumption and up-gradation of socio-economic conditions of fishermen's community.
The Marine Fisheries Department (MFD) is executing four development projects ie 'Monitoring of Deep-Sea Fishing Vessels' through establishment of 3 Base Stations and deputation of MFD representative on each vessel which aims to control poaching and management of deep-sea fishing vessels.
Another project entitled 'Strengthening of Quality Control Laboratories' is being implemented to improve quality control system in Pakistan.
Under 'Acquisition of a Fisheries Research Vessel' for Marine Fisheries Department, Marine Fisheries Department intends to acquire a vessel through Japanese grant for carrying out stock assessment in coastal and offshore waters of Pakistan.
The project entitled 'Additional Improvement in MFD Labs' in view of WTO Requirements is being implemented to further upgrade laboratories of Marine Fisheries Department to cope with requirements under WTO regime.
Besides marine fisheries, inland fisheries (based on rivers, lakes, ponds, dams etc) is also very important activity throughout the country.
Fisheries' share in GDP, though very little, contributes substantially to the national income through export earnings. During the period July-March 2003-04, 101,256 tons, valued at Rs7.9 billion, fish and fishery products were estimated to have been exported to Japan, USA, UK, Germany, Middle East, Sri Lanka, China etc.
The number of persons engaged in fisheries sector during 2003-04 was estimated at 395,000, out of which, 125,000 persons (31.6 percent) were engaged in marine sector and 270,000 persons (68.4 percent) in inland fisheries, whereas the persons engaged in fisheries sector in 2002-03 were 365,000 persons -138,000 (37.8 percent) in marine and 227,000 (62.2 percent) in inland fisheries.