Ocean Conservation and Food Security in Pakistan

World Ocean Day reminds us that the vast blue water surrounding our continents is more than scenic wonders. They are foundational to food systems, economic livelihoods, and planetary resilience. Oceans provide 3.3 billion people globally with almost 20% of their animal protein intake and support the livelihoods of over 200 million people through fisheries and aquaculture (FAO, 2023). Yet, in many countries like Pakistan, the ocean's role in food security and rural livelihoods remains significantly underrepresented in mainstream agricultural policy.

Pakistan’s 1,046 km-long coastline, encompassing the coastal provinces of Sindh and Balochistan, hosts some of the richest marine ecosystems in the Arabian Sea. These waters support small-scale fishers, mangrove-dependent communities, and growing aquaculture operations. Fisheries currently contribute about 1% to Pakistan’s GDP but provide direct and indirect livelihoods to over one million people. Despite this, marine sectors face mounting challenges: overfishing, pollution, habitat degradation, and the increasing impacts of climate change. Coastal erosion, ocean acidification, and mangrove deforestation are disrupting fish breeding grounds and reducing catch volumes threatening nutrition security and income stability for coastal populations.

Moreover, Pakistan’s aquaculture sector remains underdeveloped compared to its potential. With strategic investments in sustainable mariculture, cold chain infrastructure, and ecosystem-based coastal management, marine resources could help address food shortages, diversify diets, and boost rural economies. Integrating oceans into agricultural planning through blue economy strategies, subsidies for sustainable fishing, and conservation of marine biodiversity is essential for building a future-ready food system.

On World Ocean Day, Pakistan must rethink its food security frameworks to include its blue resources not just to feed its people but also to protect its coastlines, empower coastal communities, and contribute to climate resilience. The ocean’s contribution to agriculture is not peripheral; it is pivotal.

Why Oceans Matter for Food Security in Pakistan

Food security, as defined by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), is achieved when all people always have physical, social, and economic access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs. Oceans and marine ecosystems are essential to achieving this goal, especially for countries like Pakistan with vast coastal resources. Marine fisheries and aquaculture account for 20% of the global animal protein consumed, providing a critical source of nutrition for billions of people. For Pakistan, the connection between food security and the ocean lies not only in dietary diversity but also in livelihood support and climate resilience.

Pakistan’s coastline stretches over 1,050 km along Sindh and Balochistan, encompassing an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of approximately 290,000 square kilometers. These waters are home to more than 250 commercial fish species. However, despite this rich marine biodiversity, the sector remains underdeveloped. Pakistan’s contribution to global fish production is less than 0.5%, and fisheries account for only 0.4% of national GDP. Over 400,000 coastal livelihoods in Pakistan rely on fisheries, yet these communities often face poverty, underinvestment, and environmental degradation.

Nutritionally, fish are invaluable. They are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin A, and iron nutrients critical for addressing widespread malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies in Pakistan. Additionally, unlike traditional agriculture, marine systems are inherently more adaptable to climate change impacts, offering a more stable source of food as droughts and floods disrupt inland food systems.

Despite these advantages, Pakistan’s agricultural policy and food security planning largely overlook its marine potential. Unlocking this potential requires an integrated blue economy approach investing in sustainable fisheries, supporting small-scale fishers, expanding mariculture, and protecting marine ecosystems. Recognizing the ocean’s role in food security is not only a missed opportunity but a necessary step for building a more resilient and inclusive food system.

Marine Fisheries and Nutrition

Marine fisheries represent an overlooked yet critical opportunity to enhance Pakistan’s food and nutrition security. Globally, fish provide about 20% of animal protein, a vital source of essential nutrients such as omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin A, and iron. However, in Pakistan, fish consumption remains alarmingly low only 2.5 kg per capita annually compared to the global average of 20.5 kg (FAO, 2023). This gap is particularly concerning in a country where 40% of children suffer from stunting and widespread micronutrient deficiencies persist (UNICEF, 2023). Small fish species like sardines and mackerel, which are abundant in Pakistan’s waters, offer low-cost and nutrient-rich food options that could significantly reduce child malnutrition if incorporated into broader dietary and public health strategies.

Despite employing over 400,000 people, Pakistan’s marine fishing industry continues to leave its workers economically excluded. According to WWF Pakistan (2023), 80% of fishers live below the poverty line. The sector suffers from severe structural constraints: only 5% of the total catch is processed due to a lack of cold storage and processing infrastructure, and small-scale fishers often have no access to formal credit or insurance mechanisms. Moreover, unsustainable practices such as illegal trawling have reduced fish stocks by nearly 30% over the past decade (Fisheries Department, 2023), further threatening food supplies and livelihoods.

Environmental degradation exacerbates the crisis. Karachi’s coastline receives 12,000 tons of plastic waste annually (UNDP, 2023), which pollutes breeding grounds and damages fish habitats. Climate change adds another layer of risk, with rising sea temperatures and increasing coastal erosion undermining mangrove ecosystems critical for spawning. Policy fragmentation where marine resources are siloed from agriculture in governance further impedes the integration of fisheries into national food security planning. Addressing these interconnected challenges is essential to fully realize the nutritional and economic potential of Pakistan’s marine fisheries.

Integrating Marine Resources into Pakistan’s Agricultural Framework

Despite Pakistan’s extensive coastline and rich marine biodiversity, its national and provincial agricultural frameworks fail to acknowledge the vital role of marine resources in food security and rural development. The National Food Security Policy (2018), while comprehensive in terrestrial terms, makes no mention of fisheries, aquaculture, or coastal livelihoods. Similarly, the agriculture policies of Sindh and Balochistan provinces that span the entirety of Pakistan’s coastline are silent on integrating marine ecosystems into food production strategies. At the federal level, there is no standalone ministry for fisheries; instead, a small fisheries department operates under the broader umbrella of livestock, limiting both visibility and influence in policymaking.

To address this structural oversight, several critical policy interventions are needed. First, fisheries and aquaculture must be formally integrated into national food security strategies. Recognizing their role in nutrition, livelihood generation, and climate resilience would elevate their importance in budgetary and developmental priorities. Coastal nutrition programs such as incorporating fish into school meals in fishing villages can improve child health while supporting local economies.

Investment is also essential in climate-resilient coastal farming models that combine salt-tolerant crops with aquaculture to adapt to saline intrusion and sea-level rise. Upgrading cold storage and processing infrastructure will reduce post-harvest losses and improve income for small-scale fishers. Meanwhile, expanding access to credit, insurance, and training for coastal communities would empower marginalized groups, particularly women, to enter the blue economy.

Pakistan must also invest in marine research and data systems to inform sustainable management and combat overfishing. Finally, adopting a comprehensive Blue Economy framework as recommended by the World Bank (2023) will align fisheries, tourism, coastal development, and environmental conservation under a unified national vision. Without policy realignment, Pakistan risks underutilizing one of its most valuable yet overlooked natural resources.

Conclusion

Oceans are not a peripheral concern but a central pillar of food security, economic stability, and climate resilience especially for a country like Pakistan with immense marine resources. As World Ocean Day calls global attention to the value of our blue planet, Pakistan must confront a critical policy gap: the systematic exclusion of marine fisheries and aquaculture from its agricultural and food security frameworks. With over a million livelihoods depending on the sea and fish offering a vital source of micronutrients to combat malnutrition, the stakes are both economic and nutritional.

Yet, persistent challenges from illegal trawling and coastal pollution to policy fragmentation continue to limit the sector’s potential. Small-scale fishers remain economically marginalized, while marine ecosystems face mounting environmental pressures. Addressing these requires more than piecemeal reforms; it demands a transformative approach rooted in a blue economy vision.

By integrating fisheries into national food policies, investing in coastal infrastructure, supporting sustainable practices, and empowering local communities, Pakistan can unlock the full value of its oceans. Doing so will not only diversify food systems and boost rural incomes but also enhance the country’s resilience to climate change. The path forward is clear: to secure a sustainable future, Pakistan must turn toward the sea not away from it.

References: FAO; WWF Pakistan; PCRWR; World Bank; UNDP; State Bank of Pakistan; UNICEF; Fisheries Department

Please note that the views expressed in this article are of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of any organization.

The writer is affiliated with the Department of Agricultural Economics, Faculty of Social Sciences, Sindh Agriculture University Tandojam Sindh, Pakistan and can be reached at qadirbux944@gmail.com

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