ISLAMABAD: After a long time of ban the USA has finally lifted the ban on fish and seafood imports from Pakistan. This was announced by Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry who said that the United States has granted Pakistan a four-year approval to export fish and seafood products a major breakthrough and good news for the country’s seafood industry.
The minister on Saturday said the approval is global recognition of the quality of Pakistan’s seafood, confirming that Pakistani fisheries have met U.S. standards. He added that the decision will ensure continuity and stability in seafood exports, strengthening Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves.
Junaid Anwar Chaudhry while highlighting the sector’s recent performance, revealed that Pakistan exported 242,000 tons of fish last year, earning $489 million in foreign exchange. He expressed optimism that exports could reach $600 million next year following this U.S. approval.
According to him the U.S. decision not only opens new opportunities for Pakistani exports but will also help establish a stronger and more reliable presence for Pakistan’s fisheries in global market.
He said the decision reflects international recognition of the quality of Pakistan’s seafood and will provide long-term stability to the sector. The extension is expected to bolster our position in the global seafood market, securing access to one of the world’s largest seafood importers.
He explained that the United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has classified all Pakistani fisheries listed on its List of Foreign Fisheries (LOFF) as “comparable” under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA).
“This classification confirms that Pakistan’s fisheries meet US standards for protecting marine mammals from incidental mortality and serious injury during fishing operations,” Junaid Chaudhry said.
The MMPA requires fisheries to minimize marine mammal bycatch, adopt conservation practices, and operate sustainably measures that also support healthier marine ecosystems.
Currently, Pakistani seafood earns about US$ 2 per kilogram in the global market. With this international endorsement of compliance, the price is projected to rise, potentially opening new markets in Europe and the Gulf.
In FY 2024–25, Pakistan exported 242,484 metric tons of fish and related products worth US$ 489.2 million at an average of US$ 2 per kilogram. The same export volume next year could generate nearly US$ 600 million.
Minister Chaudhry highlighted that Pakistan’s successful submission of a comprehensive compliance dossier to NOAA under the MMPA was a critical milestone. This acceptance validates Pakistan’s ongoing efforts to regulate its commercial fisheries, uphold sustainable fishing practices, and align with international environmental standards.
He emphasized that this approval is vital to safeguard Pakistan’s multi-million-dollar seafood exports to the US market while simultaneously enhancing the country’s reputation for responsible and sustainable fisheries management worldwide.
However, he also stressed the importance of continuously strengthening protective measures for marine mammal populations, as recommended by NOAA, to ensure the long-term health of marine biodiversity.
