The Pakistan Bureau of Statistics reported that Pakistan increased its seafood exports to $465 million in FY25, marking a 13.4% rise in value and an 8% growth in quantity compared to the previous year. Exporters shipped 216,350 tons of seafood, up from 199,738 tons worth \$410 million in FY24.
The Pakistan Fisheries Exporters Association (PFEA) credited fishermen and processors for boosting seafood exports, despite facing weak global demand and restricted market access.
PFEA Vice-Chairman Saeed Fareed said a U.S. ban on shrimp and restricted access to the EU continue to constrain seafood exports. He noted that processing plants are operating at only 20–25 percent capacity due to raw material shortages.
Over the past two decades, shrimp landings have dropped significantly, forcing the industry to shift its focus to alternative species like cuttlefish, squid, and octopus.
Fareed warned that fish stocks are declining, referencing reports from the Marine Fisheries Department and the FAO. He urged the government to implement conservation measures and actively pursue re-entry into the U.S., EU, and Saudi markets.
Structural and regulatory hurdles have kept exporters from reaching the $500 million target. In response, the government has proposed reforms such as establishing shrimp farming clusters, developing hatcheries, banning the use of trash fish in fishmeal, and introducing onboard freezing to minimize post-harvest losses.
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