冻品攻略

Pakistan Secures 25,000-Tonne Tuna Quota, Targets $200 Million Export Goal!

Source: 冻品攻略2025-07-07 08:000 views0 comments

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Pakistan Secures 25,000-Tonne Tuna Quota, Targets $200 Million Export Goal!

Recently, Pakistan's Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs, Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry, announced that Pakistan's tuna industry is at a major turning point. With reforms to the global quota system and the country's own fisheries management policies, Pakistan has for the first time obtained a 25,000-tonne tuna quota from the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC), which is expected to bring the country up to $200 million in export earnings.

The quota comprises 15,000 tonnes of yellowfin tuna and 10,000 tonnes of skipjack tuna. It is consistent with climate-friendly fisheries management principles and aims to protect marine biodiversity and ease pressure on marine ecosystems.

Minister Chaudhry said: "This is not only a milestone for Pakistan's fisheries, but also an important breakthrough in foreign-exchange earnings." Based on the current international market price of $5 to $7 per kilogram of tuna, the economic value could rise further if the catch is deeply processed.

Pakistan's annual tuna catch already exceeds 45,000 tonnes, but due to a historical lack of regulation, a large amount of high-value resources has not been brought into the formal economic system. To this end, the government is vigorously advancing fisheries reform:

The National Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy has been introduced to unify the regulatory framework and promote environmentally friendly, income-generating fishing methods;
Pakistan has for the first time been elected to chair the IOTC's Standing Committee on Finance and Administration, marking its strengthened voice in global tuna governance;
Phasing out destructive fishing methods such as gillnets and trawls in favor of environmentally friendly longline fishing technology.

Notably, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) supports Pakistan's transition and has provided 10 sets of longline gear free of charge for demonstration and promotion. Chaudhry noted that this method is expected to raise the value per kilogram of product from $2 to $8 while reducing bycatch, playing a positive role in marine ecosystem recovery under climate change.

To support the reforms, the government has also substantially increased revenue from aquatic export certification and testing fees (from 48 million rupees to 250 million rupees), and is accelerating the upgrade and renovation of Korangi Fisheries Harbour, building a new auction hall and floating docks to improve tuna unloading efficiency and expand exports to Europe.

Chaudhry concluded: "With the quota in hand, policies transforming, and international cooperation growing, Pakistan's tuna industry stands on the threshold of a historic breakthrough."