TEDs are specialized metal devices incorporated into trawl nets to safeguard turtles. These devices consist of bars and mesh inserted into the net’s neck, allowing shrimp to pass through while deterring larger species, such as turtles, by guiding them towards an exit through a mesh flap. The lack of TEDs in Pakistani shrimp nets resulted in a loss of approximately $150 million in annual exports to the US.

Fishermen Cooperative Society (FCS) senior official, Ahmed Yousuf Bhatti, identified the insufficient use of TEDs as stemming from communication gaps between stakeholders, government departments, and fishermen’s lack of enthusiasm. However, recent developments indicate a positive shift in the industry.

Efforts are now underway to meet the US requirement of TED installation in shrimp-catching nets within the next three to four months, aiming to revive shrimp exports to the US. Mr. Bhatti noted that fishermen were previously hesitant due to the perceived risk of receiving low prices for their shrimp catch and facing higher fuel costs for their sea journeys. However, recent developments have brought about a change in this sentiment. Fast-track training programs at the FCS are providing assurances that TED compliance will benefit both fishermen and the country by boosting foreign exchange earnings. Training sessions are also being extended to high-sea fishing operations.

In addition to training, the introduction of lightweight, durable aluminum-made TEDs, priced at Rs13,000-14,000 (around US $46 – $50) , is replacing the less durable iron-made devices. This transition is expected to address some of the long-term durability issues that have plagued the industry.

An American delegation is expected to visit for a TED installation review within the next three to four months, providing an additional incentive for compliance. Awareness campaigns, training, and financing options for TEDs are being actively promoted to achieve the desired results.

Sarwar Siddiqui, Patron in Chief of the Sindh Trawler Owners and Fishermen Association, stressed the importance of adhering to US regulations and convincing fishermen to use TEDs. Siddiqui acknowledged concerns from fishermen about large fish getting stuck in the net where TED is installed, making fishing trips financially unfeasible. However, he emphasized that compliance is crucial for the industry’s survival.

Managing Director of the Karachi Fish Harbor Authority (KFHA), Zahid Khemtio, highlighted the issue of fishermen removing TEDs from their nets during open-sea fishing trips. Addressing this compliance concern in open sea waters and the establishment of proper TED specifications within the local fishing industry are essential steps in moving forward.

The Livestock and Fisheries Department has directed strict TED implementation on shrimp trawlers, and fishing permits will not be issued without TED installation.

In the ongoing second phase of TED installation training, the Marine Fisheries Department (MFD), KFHA, and Fishermen Cooperative Society Limited (FCSL) have been providing training to boat captains to ensure the proper use and installation of TEDs. With these concerted efforts, shrimp export of Pakistan is striving to regain its position in the lucrative US market while ensuring the protection of endangered turtles.

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According to the plan, ten 10,000-acre shrimp farms would be designed in the region, and shrimp aquaculture might be implemented on 100,000 acres of empty land in a chosen district throughout the initial stage.

For a set term, regional investors will receive free land to use for shrimp farming. However, following the accomplishment of the pilot phase, the plan will be increased.

In the meantime, a proposition is also being evaluated to provide small farmers with easy-to-repay loans for shrimp farming. However, this is not the first time for such initiatives as the government has undertaken such measures before. As part of the revised pilot shrimp farming cluster development project, the government agreed to raise the overall number of shrimp farms from 3,500 to 10,600 earlier in 2022. The experiment with shrimp farming on 1250 acres of land has proven successful in Punjab as part of a federal government effort.

The Rs. 5,397.84 million pilot projects to build a shrimp farming cluster was originally intended for the Punjab province, but it has now been expanded to Sindh, Balochistan, and the Islamabad Capital Territory.

The Punjab province was the sole area for which the pilot shrimp cluster development project was approved earlier in 2019. The project is expected to be finished in 2024. However, according to the source, the National Coordination Committee (NCC) has opted to change the shrimp farming project to expand its scope to encompass Sindh and Balochistan and increase the project’s target number of shrimp farms from 3500 to 10600.

In order to reduce imports, the government of Punjab will test multiple shrimp hatcheries on these 100,000 acres of unusable land as part of the current pilot program project.

A senior member of the Punjab Fisheries Department stated that shrimp could only be raised in seawater, but that trials for their breeding in saline water reservoirs in various regions of Punjab have been performed successfully in the early years.

He stated that sea salt may also be dissolved in the water intended for the shrimp hatcheries in order to provide a near-natural habitat for crustaceans in the Potohar region of Punjab.

He claimed that Punjab Government plans to increase the shrimp cultivation area from 2,500 to 7,200 acres in order to utilize salinity-affected and desolate lands, with the department providing a Rs120,000 per acre subsidy to producers.

Chaudhry Iftikhar Ahmad, director (extension) of Punjab Fisheries, anticipated that the initiative would assist the country in reducing shrimp imports and generating revenue through exports, while also putting 100,000 acres of unused land to use.

Building shrimp hatcheries, feed mills, and processing facilities has reportedly been a key component of achieving self-reliance in shrimp farming. For example, in Ecuador, shrimp farming is considered as an environmentally friendly industry that generates more than 4.5 billion dollars in revenue annually.

Therefore, 1.5 million acres of uncultivated land that are available for shrimp farming might be a great asset for Punjab. Moreover, experts have high hope for the current project as an experiment with the practice on 1250 acres of land has already proven successful. It is anticipated that should the project be successful; it will contribute to the foreign exchange earnings of billions of dollars.

Jaber Bin Abdul Bari
Department of Oceanography, NSTU

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According to ProPakistani, the government has now made a revision to this pilot project. They decided to increase the number of shrimp farms from 3,500 to 10,600 under this revised pilot shrimp farming cluster development project.

Earlier the budget for this pilot shrimp farming cluster development project was USD 24 million (based on current exchange rate), which was mainly for the province of Punjab. Currently, the revisions are being extended to Sindh, Balochistan and Islamabad, capital region.

The pilot project is a part of the Agricultural Transformation Plan (ATP) and technology adoption efforts in the Pakistan shrimp farming. It will be jointly implemented by the Ministry of National Food Security and Research, Fisheries Development Board (FDB) and Provincial Divisions of Fisheries (Punjab, Balochistan and Sindh).

It has also been decided in revised plan that instead of subsidizing the purchase of shrimp seed and feed by the private sector, the development of shrimp farms should be subsidized including construction of ponds and development of associated infrastructure.

Recently the committee has fixed the ratio of farm construction subsidy. It will be USD 536 per acre for a maximum of 10 acres per farmer and for development of shrimp farms on 7,200 acres in Punjab, 1,100 in Balochistan and 2,300 acres in Sindh.

The committee also decided that 50% of the cost of farm construction would be shared by private shrimp farmers, selected by the provincial fisheries department. While the remaining 50% of the cost would be shared equally by the federal and provincial governments.

The proposed model is primarily based on semi-intensive Pakistan shrimp farming culture. As per the plan, a low stocking density of 60,000 shrimp seeds per acre of pond will be carried out. Commercial shrimp feed will be used and aeration support will be introduced during periods of severe oxygen deficiency.

The expected yield per acre is around 1450-1500 kg with a 30-gm average weight, which may fetch USD 3.60 – 3.80 per kg. According to the project plan, it will be completed by 2024.

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