New fishing season begins amid financial pressures

KARACHI: The new fishing season officially began on Monday, with fishermen returning to the Arabian Sea after the annual two-month ban. While the reopening brought hope for a better catch, the industry remains under severe financial pressure as record-high diesel prices and electricity tariffs continue to squeeze fishing operations and fish processing.

The day began with Fateha and Qur’an Khwani, a long-standing tradition observed on the first day of every fishing season before boats set sail. As the warm August sun rose over the harbour and a cool sea breeze swept across the waterfront, fishermen gathered on their boats to offer prayers for a safe voyage and a prosperous season.

With smiles and renewed hope, the boats gradually headed into deeper waters, carrying the expectations of thousands of families whose livelihoods depend on the sea.

The government imposes a fishing ban every year during June and July to allow shrimp and fish species to breed. This year, however, the ban started later than usual on June 15 and ended on August 3 instead of August 1 because of rainy weather, according to the Karachi Fish Harbour Authority.

Despite the reopening, industry leaders say the sector is facing one of its toughest periods.

Patron-in-Chief of the Sindh Trawlers Owners and Fishermen Association (STOFA), Sarwar Siddiqui, said soaring fuel prices and rising input costs have made deep-sea fishing extremely difficult and financially risky.

“Operating a deep-sea fishing trawler for one month now costs at least Rs8 million, making fishing almost unviable,” he said.

Siddiqui warned that Karachi’s fisheries sector, the country’s largest, is struggling to survive with little sign of recovery.

He said many boat owners are willing to sell their trawlers for only 60 percent of their actual value, but there are no buyers because investors have lost confidence in the industry’s future.

“Diesel prices are at a historic high, while electricity tariffs are also extremely expensive. Boats run on diesel, and fish processing factories depend on electricity. Both have become unaffordable,” he said.

Siddiqui expressed disappointment over the lack of government support for the fisheries sector. He said countries such as Oman and Iran provide subsidies to help their fishing industries remain competitive.

“If government support is absent, then only divine intervention can save this declining sector,” he remarked.

He urged the government to provide tax-free diesel, saying such relief could revive the industry and enable fishermen to benefit from the opportunities offered by the new season.

“Last season was extremely difficult. Costs kept rising while returns remained low,” he said.

Describing high fuel and electricity costs as a “double-edged sword”, Siddiqui said they have not only increased the cost of fishing in deep waters but have also reduced fish processing at factories.

“Only God can help us,” he said, expressing hope that the new season would bring better earnings for everyone connected with the industry, from small fishermen and trawler owners to seafood exporters and processing factories.

He warned that if current conditions continue the fisheries sector could become unsustainable, making it difficult to recover in the future.

Siddiqui also called on the government to pay attention to the hardships faced by thousands of fishermen and workers who have depended on this industry throughout their lives.

Commenting on this season’s catch, he said shrimp, once the most profitable species, no longer provides the same returns. Fishermen now have to travel much farther into the sea to catch shrimp, increasing fuel consumption, operational costs and physical hardship while generating lower income.

“The boats have only just left the harbour. The real picture of the season will become clear after about a month when they return,” he said.

The difficult conditions facing the industry are also reflected in the country’s latest export performance.

The final trade data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics showed that Pakistan exported 215,170 metric tons of fish and fish products worth USD 482.1 million during FY2025-26.

Although export earnings increased by around 4 percent compared with the previous fiscal year, export volume declined by about 1 percent, indicating only modest growth despite higher export receipts.

The monthly figures were less encouraging. In June 2026, fish exports fell sharply from May in both quantity and value. Compared with June 2025, export volume also declined, while export earnings recorded a slight decrease, highlighting the pressure on the fisheries sector even as the new fishing season begins.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026