Govt rolls out 10-year plan for shark conservation, sustainable fisheries

September 08, 2026 (MLN): The government has unveiled Pakistan's first 10-year national plan of action for the conservation and management of sharks, aimed at promoting sustainable fisheries management across the country's waters.

Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry stated this on Tuesday, saying the National Plan of Action for the Conservation and Management of Sharks (NPOA-Sharks Pakistan 2025-2035) would be implemented in three phases over the next decade under the leadership of the Marine Fisheries Department and oversight of a multi-stakeholder National Advisory Committee.

He said an estimated $3.8 million to $5 million would be required during the first five years of the plan, with funding to be sourced from government allocations, international donors and private-sector contributions, according to a press release issued.

The plan aims to restore shark populations, eliminate illegal finning, reduce bycatch mortality, protect critical habitats, improve coastal livelihoods and promote sustainable shark fisheries management by 2035.

It provides a framework for improving data collection and research, strengthening fisheries management and enforcement, and introducing measures including mandatory fins-naturally-attached policies and species-specific protections.

The plan also provides for habitat protection through shark sanctuaries and mangrove restoration, measures to reduce bycatch across fisheries, and engagement with fishing communities through livelihood support, with international cooperation including through the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission  also forming part of the framework.

Progress would be assessed through annual performance indicators, including landing-site monitoring coverage, completion of stock assessments, deployment of vessel monitoring systems and reductions in bycatch mortality, the minister said, adding that formal reviews would be conducted every three years.

He said the plan had been designed to reflect Pakistan's ecological, institutional and socioeconomic conditions while remaining aligned with the Food and Agriculture Organisation's International Plan of Action for Sharks and other international best practices.

The action plan covers all chondrichthyan species including sharks, rays, skates and chimaeras found in Pakistani waters, with particular attention to shark species targeted by fisheries or facing significant bycatch mortality.

Although the primary emphasis is on sharks, the management frameworks, data collection systems and enforcement mechanisms established through the plan would also benefit other elasmobranch species, many of which face similar conservation challenges, Junaid Chaudhry said.

He said development of the national action plan fulfilled Pakistan's responsibility as a shark-fishing nation under international fisheries law, adding that the FAO's International Plan of Action for the Conservation and Management of Sharks encouraged countries to adopt national plans for shark conservation, minimise waste and promote sustainable fishing practices.

Responsible management of marine resources must come first, with stronger measures needed to protect vulnerable shark species and those whose capture is prohibited, he said, terming it both a national responsibility and part of Pakistan's obligations under various environmental agreements.

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