What is the status of marine conservation in Pakistan?

Pakistan has created only 3 marine protected areas, covering less than 1% of its ocean, and these areas are failing to curb damaging practices like trawling, ghost nets, and electric fishing.

Why are Pakistan's marine protected areas ineffective?

Lack of funding and resources is the primary reason, as environmental departments are underfunded and the wildlife department lacks the personnel and equipment to monitor and enforce the regulations.

How is the Miani Hor MPA, Pakistan's latest protected area, faring?

The Miani Hor MPA, created in 2025, is largely unknown to the local people, and damaging practices like trawling and electric fishing continue unabated, with no enforcement efforts in place.

Home / Environment / Pakistan's Marine Protected Areas Fail to Curb Damaging Practices

Pakistan's Marine Protected Areas Fail to Curb Damaging Practices

17 Oct

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Summary

Pakistan has created only 3 marine protected areas, covering less than 1% of its ocean
Trawlers, ghost nets, and electric fishing continue to threaten marine life in these areas
Lack of funding and enforcement hampers effective implementation of protection measures

As of October 2025, Pakistan is struggling to meet its marine conservation targets, with its existing protected areas failing to effectively safeguard the country's ocean ecosystems. In the past few years, Pakistan has created three marine protected areas (MPAs) around Miani Hor, Astola Island, and Churna Island, but these cover less than 1% of the 240,000 sq km of ocean under its jurisdiction.

The reality on the ground paints a bleak picture, with trawlers sweeping the seabed, discarded "ghost nets" entangling marine life, and fishers using electric currents to catch their prey, even within these supposedly protected areas. Experts warn that Pakistan's marine life is already facing significant threats from poorly planned development activities and climate change.

The government cites a lack of funding and resources as the primary reasons for the ineffective implementation of protection measures in these MPAs. Environmental departments are reportedly the least prioritized, receiving minimal budgets, and the wildlife department lacks the personnel and equipment needed to monitor and enforce the regulations.

Despite the challenges, the government is collaborating with provincial authorities and international organizations to establish more MPAs and explore the potential of other effective area-based conservation measures. However, with the 2030 deadline for the global 30x30 biodiversity target fast approaching, Pakistan is sailing towards it with only a tiny fraction of its marine territory currently protected.

Disclaimer: This story has been auto-aggregated and auto-summarised by a computer program. This story has not been edited or created by the Feedzop team.