Pakistan’s fishing industry, centered along its Arabian Sea coastline and major river systems like the Indus, plays a vital role in the nation’s economy and food security. The country’s top fish catches include marine species such as Indian mackerel, pomfret, sardines, croakers, ribbonfish, and shrimps, as well as freshwater species like rohu, catla, and various carps from inland fisheries. Historically, fishing in Pakistan has been a traditional livelihood for coastal and riverine communities, with the industry expanding after independence in 1947 through modernization efforts, development of ports like Karachi and Gwadar, and the introduction of mechanized boats. Today, Pakistan exports significant quantities of fish and seafood, especially to China, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia, though the sector faces challenges such as overfishing, outdated processing facilities, and the need for better resource management.
| Rank | Fish Species | Metric Tons |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Freshwater fishes nei | 151,051 |
| 2 | Indian oil sardine | 40,002 |
| 3 | Indian mackerel | 36,297 |
| 4 | Clupeoids nei | 34,256 |
| 5 | Croakers, drums nei | 16,369 |
| 6 | Marine fishes nei | 15,786 |
| 7 | Largehead hairtail | 12,646 |
| 8 | Narrow-barred Spanish mackerel | 11,006 |
| 9 | Mullets nei | 10,955 |
| 10 | Tuna-like fishes nei | 10,591 |
| 11 | Threadfin breams nei | 10,565 |
| 12 | Groupers nei | 9,755 |
| 13 | Parapenaeopsis shrimps nei | 9,736 |
| 14 | Common dolphinfish | 7,654 |
| 15 | Frigate tuna | 7,584 |
| 16 | Yellowfin tuna | 7,470 |
| 17 | Marine crabs nei | 6,561 |
| 18 | Anchovies, etc. nei | 6,232 |
| 19 | Cuttlefish, bobtail squids nei | 6,140 |
| 20 | Penaeus shrimps nei | 5,858 |
| 21 | Barracudas nei | 5,848 |
| 22 | Sea catfishes nei | 5,684 |
| 23 | Carangids nei | 5,184 |
| 24 | Longtail tuna | 4,392 |
| 25 | Butterfishes, pomfrets nei | 4,204 |
| 26 | Requiem sharks nei | 4,023 |
| 27 | Various squids nei | 3,854 |
| 28 | Torpedo scad | 3,842 |
| 29 | Metapenaeus shrimps nei | 3,761 |
| 30 | Grunts, sweetlips nei | 3,421 |
| 31 | Dorab wolf-herring | 2,934 |
| 32 | Cobia | 2,799 |
| 33 | Emperors(=Scavengers) nei | 2,675 |
| 34 | Spiral babylon | 2,387 |
| 35 | Black pomfret | 2,313 |
| 36 | Pike-congers nei | 2,133 |
| 37 | Guitarfishes, etc. nei | 2,120 |
| 38 | Porgies, seabreams nei | 2,017 |
| 39 | Indo-Pacific sailfish | 1,892 |
| 40 | Jacks, crevalles nei | 1,815 |
| 41 | Kawakawa | 1,586 |
| 42 | Hilsa shad | 1,582 |
| 43 | Tropical spiny lobsters nei | 1,522 |
| 44 | Tonguefishes | 1,322 |
| 45 | Mangrove red snapper | 1,288 |
| 46 | Skipjack tuna | 1,053 |
| 47 | Black marlin | 983 |
| 48 | Striped marlin | 845 |
| 49 | Razor clams, knife clams nei | 494 |
| 50 | Sillago-whitings | 449 |
Data from FAO. 2025. Global Capture Production. In: Fisheries and Aquaculture.