ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has secured $3 million in funding from the Global Environment Facility to strengthen marine biodiversity conservation and reform the country’s fisheries sector, Maritime Affairs Minister Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry said on Saturday.
According to an official statement, the project will be implemented by the maritime affairs ministry and is aimed at accelerating a shift toward “sustainable and regenerative fisheries management practices.”
The funding comes as Pakistan faces mounting environmental, regulatory and economic pressures in its fisheries sector, which remains vital for coastal livelihoods but contributes only a small share to national output.
Of the total allocation, $1.2 million will be used for biodiversity-focused interventions, while $1.8 million will address land degradation linked to coastal and marine ecosystems. The initiative was proposed through the climate change and environmental coordination framework and aligns with Pakistan’s international environmental commitments.
Highlighting sectoral challenges, Chaudhry said fisheries contribute “about one percent to Pakistan’s GDP” but continue to face serious structural gaps.
“Our sector faces overfishing, high post-harvest losses and illicit practices that strain marine environments,” he said.
He noted that 701 vessels operate in tuna fishing, most of them artisanal boats, where “unselective fishing methods and weak onboard storage reduce product value and export potential.”
As a member of the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission, Pakistan also faces governance challenges.
The minister said these include “unreliable data and weak regulatory enforcement,” adding that more than 70 unofficial fish landing sites further complicate monitoring and policy oversight.
On reform measures, Chaudhry said the programme would focus on strengthening data systems, improving infrastructure, enhancing transparency and building institutional capacity.
“It builds on commitments like reducing fishing effort, declaring Marine Protected Areas, and cutting bycatch,” he said.
He added that the initiative aims to modernize the fisheries sector, improve fisherfolk livelihoods and ensure compliance with global environmental standards, while delivering “long-term economic and ecological sustainability.”
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