Pakistan has a 1,050 km long coastline, shared by two provinces, Sindh and Balochistan, stretching from the Rann of Kutch in the east to Jiwani in the west. 

Globally with as many as 100 million species, marine biodiversity far exceeds that on land. In Pakistan, it faces various threats from habitat destruction to illegal catch of juveniles of commercially important fish species, in particular for migratory species (such as tuna and tuna like species). These threats have marred the marine biodiversity in Northern Indian Ocean. 

High levels of by-catch of cetaceans, marine turtles and sharks in fishing operations, dumping of untreated waste, and large amounts of marine pollution have further deteriorated the natural habitat and stocks of ecologically and commercially important species in the area. 

At a conservative estimate, the goods and services the oceans provide – from fishing to tourism and coastal protection – are worth at least US$2.5 trillion per year. That would make the oceans the world’s seventh largest economy. And they could play an even bigger role in supporting people in developing countries – but only if we use them sustainably.

Protecting the oceans pays huge dividends – and we know they can often bounce back. We’ve seen fish stocks recover thanks to better management, while marine protected areas have created jobs and boosted tourism by reviving nature.