Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry inaugurated Pakistan’s first Fishing Expertise Museum and likewise launched the Mahi Dost digital traceability software. These initiatives goal to enhance fisheries administration and enhance the competitiveness of Pakistan’s seafood exports.
The museum, positioned in Karachi, showcases the event of fishing strategies from conventional practices to fashionable applied sciences. It serves as a nationwide hub for analysis, studying, and coverage steerage, whereas additionally preserving the cultural heritage of coastal communities because the sector modernizes.
Chatting with fishermen, teachers, and enterprise representatives, the minister defined that the museum is designed to help coverage choices by combining native data with fashionable instruments. He emphasised that applied sciences resembling AI-enabled sonar methods and environmentally pleasant nets might assist forestall overfishing and handle climate-related dangers.
He additionally highlighted that Pakistan’s unique financial zone holds nice potential however continues to endure losses attributable to unlawful, unreported, and unregulated fishing. The museum’s analysis and archives might assist carry evidence-based reforms and practice future marine scientists and fisheries managers.
The Mahi Dost app introduces a digital system to trace fish from catch to shopper utilizing blockchain and GPS. Fishermen can document catch information through QR codes, making certain compliance with worldwide laws like EU Catch Certification, the US Marine Mammal Safety Act, and Indian Ocean Tuna Fee requirements.
The app additionally verifies dolphin-safe fishing practices and improves transparency in seafood provide chains, supporting Pakistan’s $500 million seafood export trade. Pilot initiatives have already decreased approval occasions for European markets and allowed small-scale fishermen to succeed in higher-value consumers.
Moreover, the minister introduced the smooth launch of a ferry service terminal on January 8, the primary time a personal firm has been licensed to function a ferry in Pakistan. He talked about that he has contacted the ambassadors of Iran, Iraq, and Yemen to encourage ferry operators of their nations to coordinate with Pakistan’s ministry.
