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Pakistan's Marine Protected Areas Fail to Curb Damaging Practices
17 Oct
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.
