January 10, 2013

 

 

Due to the ban on seafood from Pakistan to EU because of poor hygienic conditions at the fish harbours, Pakistan has been suffering loss of around US$50 million annually since 2007.

 

Efforts are however being made to convince European countries to resume buying while improving quality standards set by the EU importers, observed Punjab Fisheries Department Director General Muhammad Ashraf.

 

He said that the target of fish production has been set at 0.73 million tonnes in 2012-13 in the country; however, it has registered a negative growth during last financial year as output dropped by 24%.

 

As many as 0.26 million tonnes of inland and 0.47 tonnes of marine fish production is estimated during the year 2012-13 to fulfil the domestic consumption as well as to export, seafood industry experts said. He said that despite a ban by EU on import of Pakistani fish and fish-related products, the export of seafood is picking up as the local industry makes inroads in new markets. 

 

If the EU allows import of Pakistani seafood, export earnings could cross US$350 million as some varieties of shrimp did not get a good price in other markets compared to the EU, DG Fisheries claimed. Quoting statistics, he stated that export of fish and fish products increased 1.61% during the first four months of this fiscal year to US$98.697 million from US$97.131 million in the same period last year.

 

In terms of volume, seafood exports increased by 14.36%, up from 37,592 tonnes last year to 42,990 tonnes during the period under review. He said that Sindh government is holding talks with experts from the fishery sector to pave the way for lifting of ban on export of shrimps from Pakistan to the members of the EU.

 

Ashraf stated that the required standards would be maintained, right from the fish catch procedure and practices to their dispatch to final destinations. Special care would be taken to improve hygiene and quality of products. The provincial government and the EU experts extensively discussed modes that may help Pakistan acquire the required export quality standards. He stressed the need to promote modern aquaculture techniques.

 

He said Netherlands was assisting the Balochistan government to develop Pasni Port and Fish Harbour that would help Pakistan to enhance fish exports to the EU. Ashraf pointed out that a firm, engaged in fish exports, had sought licence to export fish from Pasni to the EU countries.

 

He pointed out that the government of Japan had provided a grant of PKR800 million (US$8 million) for the rehabilitation of Fish Harbour. Holland is engaged in rehabilitation of the harbour so that it meets the required EU quality operational standards.

 

The provincial government initiated the PKR558 million (US$6 million) project for improvement of fishing industry. Priority was given to boat modification and more than 400 boats had been modified per specification of the EU at a cost of around PKR0.2 million-1.3 million (US$2,000-13,000) each.