Fisheries research and its developmental needs in Pakistan

摘要

Central to Pakistan's economy, fisheries is a small but important sub-sector of agriculture. Fisheries and aquaculture add substantially to national income and employment and provide animal protein. Fisheries products constitute the fourth largest agricultural export commodity. Inland water resources in the mountains and plains are classified into cold-water, warm-water and cool-water zones and the marine areas include estuaries, continental shelf, coastal areas and deep seas. In the past, there was no national fisheries research system primarily due to lack of financial and qualified human resources. In the last decade, two research centers, one at the federal level and the other at the provincial level, have been established. Research at these centers has focused on: reservoir fisheries management; breeding and genetic manipulation of major carps; limited research on trout breeding and production; and on-farm research for sustainable aquaculture. Marine fisheries research is focused on limnology, fish biology, fish harvesting methods and post-harvest activities.