KEY POINTS
- Pakistan exported 242,484 metric tons of fish and related products in FY 2024–25
- The export volume stood at $489.2 million at an average of $2 per kilogram
ISLAMABAD: In a significant development for the Pakistani exports list, Pakistan has received authorisation to extend the export of fish and fish-related products to the United States for another four years.
Under the approval, the United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has classified all Pakistani fisheries listed on its List of Foreign Fisheries (LOFF) as “comparable” under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA).
US standards
“This classification confirms that Pakistan’s fisheries meet US standards for protecting marine mammals from incidental mortality and serious injury during fishing operations,” Pakistan’s Minister for Maritime Affairs Junaid Chaudhr said in an official statement.
The MMPA requires fisheries to minimise marine mammal bycatch, adopt conservation practices, and implement sustainable measures that also support healthier marine ecosystems.
Currently, Pakistani seafood earns about $2 per kilogram in the global market. With this international endorsement of compliance, the price is projected to rise, potentially opening new markets in Europe and the Gulf.
Export volume
In FY 2024–25, Pakistan exported 242,484 metric tons of fish and related products worth $489.2 million at an average of $2 per kilogram.
The same export volume next year could generate nearly $600 million.
Pakistan’s successful submission of a comprehensive compliance dossier to NOAA under the MMPA was a critical milestone.
Commercial fisheries
This acceptance validates Pakistan’s ongoing efforts to regulate its commercial fisheries, uphold sustainable fishing practices, and align with international environmental standards.
This approval is vital to safeguard Pakistan’s multi-million-dollar seafood exports to the US market while simultaneously enhancing the country’s reputation for responsible and sustainable fisheries management worldwide.
Federal Minister Junaid Anwar also stressed the importance of continuously strengthening protective measures for marine mammal populations, as recommended by NOAA, to ensure the long-term health of marine biodiversity.
