Seafood export continues to grow despite cold weather

The country's seafood export continues to grow despite a slump in winter catch and fishing operations from a cold weather, fishermen said on Tuesday. The chilly winds on winter widely bring fishing operations to a halt in December and January every year. The fishermen said that the lean period in fishing not only scales back catch but also drives the crew back to their home towns to rest until weather starts warming.
"Catch turns short in winter every year not only for local consumption but also for world markets," President Sindh Trawlers Owners and Fishermen Association (Stofa), Habibullah Khan Niazi told Business Recorder, saying that the crew shortage also reduces fish hunts in cold weather.
Pakistan exported $165.943 million of seafood during July-November 2017, higher by 6.37 percent or $9.937 million, from $156.006 million in July-November 2016.
Pakistan Bureau of Statistics shows that seafood export volume also posted an increase of 11.41 percent or 6406 metric tons to 62,570 metric tons in July-November 2017 from 56,164 metric tons in July-November 2016. "Harbor navigational channel is now congested to the capacity since fishing operations are ceased," Niazi said.