ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has launched a Rs90 million ($320,000) project to protect endangered sea turtles caught in shrimp trawling nets, the government said on Thursday, part of efforts to make its fishing industry more sustainable and boost seafood exports to the UD, EU and GCC countries.
The initiative, announced on Thursday by Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry, includes the free distribution and installation of Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs), hands-on training for trawler crews, and data monitoring to assess their impact on shrimp catch efficiency and net performance.
A Turtle Excluder Device is a specialized mechanism fitted into shrimp trawl nets that allows sea turtles and other large marine animals to escape while retaining shrimp.
“Pakistan currently sells shrimp at a comparatively low rate of about $2 per kilogram,” Chaudhry was quoted as saying in a statement by the Press Information Department.
“With TED compliance and improved international certification, the price could rise to $6 per kilogram, unlocking new opportunities in lucrative markets including the US, EU, and Gulf Cooperation Council countries.”
