Fish farming takes the hit | The Express Tribune

LAHORE:

Where the recent rains and flooding in the rivers of Punjab have displaced millions across the plain areas, they have also severely damaged fish farms, causing a crisis in both fish production and its market supply in the province.

According to the Punjab Fisheries Department, Kasur, Hafizabad, and Muzaffargarh are among the worst-affected districts, where dozens of fish farms have been partially or completely destroyed. The fast-flowing floodwaters washed away millions of fish into open waters, damaging earthen ponds, embankments, and other structures. Initial estimates suggest losses amounting to hundreds of millions of rupees.

A fish farmer from Kasur, Muhammad Ashfaq, revealed that he had invested Rs2 million this year in fish farming, but the sudden flood washed everything away. Similarly, Nazir Ahmed, a farmer from Muzaffargarh, shared that he would neither be able to repay his bank loan nor prepare for the next season. “The baby fish I had raised were lost in the flood. If the government does not offer financial aid soon, my business may shut down,” worried Ashfaq.

According to Rana Shamshad, President of the Punjab Fish Farmers Association, around 40,000 to 45,000 acres of fish farms have been affected by the floods. “On my own 500-acre farm, all fish were lost, and infrastructure such as solar panels was also destroyed. Typically, the cost of fish farming on one acre is around Rs650,000 to Rs700,000, so the overall damage could run into billions. However, an accurate estimate will only be possible once floodwaters recede,” noted Shamshad.

Most of Punjab’s fish production includes Kalba Rohu (a local carp species), which meets a significant portion of the country’s demand. Experts believe this disaster has affected not just farmers, but the overall market as well. “A large quantity of fish used to arrive daily from Southern and Central Punjab, but production has dropped by about 40 per cent due to flooding. As a result, prices are expected to rise by 30–40 per cent in the coming days,” said Chaudhry Islam, President of the Lahore Fish Market.

Notably, fish farming is a rapidly growing industry in Punjab. According to the Punjab Fisheries Department, there are currently 60,000 to 65,000 acres of land in the province producing various carp species and prawns. The fish farming sector plays a key role in the rural economy, providing livelihoods to thousands of families. However, experts warn that climate change and unpredictable weather patterns have instigated new challenges for this sector.

Speaking on the situation, Director General of Punjab Fisheries Rana Saleem Afzal claimed that all affected districts had been instructed to prepare detailed damage reports of fish and prawn farms. “The Fish Farmers Association has been asked to estimate losses so a comprehensive report can be submitted to the government. Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif and Senior Minister Maryam Aurangzeb have already announced that flood-affected farmers will not be left alone and that a special relief package will be provided for their recovery,” assured Afzal.

Conversely, the Fish Farmers Association warned that if the government does not act immediately, thousands of farmers could go bankrupt, and the country may face a shortage of a major, affordable source of protein. In the meanwhile, experts have suggested that the government should waive existing farmer loans and provide easy loans for rebuilding ponds and infrastructure.