Pakistan announced a national action plan for sharks and other cartilaginous fishes on 8 September 2026. According to the official announcement, it aims to strengthen populations, reduce lethal bycatch and protect important habitats by 2035. The Marine Fisheries Department will lead the effort, with a national advisory committee overseeing implementation.
Catch controls and habitat protection
The proposed measures include better catch data, research, species-specific protection and rules requiring fins to remain attached to shark bodies. Shark sanctuaries, mangrove restoration and support for coastal communities are also part of the announced framework. Alongside sharks, it covers rays and chimaeras.
Funding and the timetable remain crucial
The government estimates that US$3.8 million to US$5 million will be needed over the first five years. Funding is expected from the state, international donors and private stakeholders. The announcement does not establish that funding is fully secured.
The plan is called ‘NPOA-Sharks Pakistan 2025–2035’, although it was announced in September 2026. The announcement describes three implementation phases but does not explain this timing discrepancy. Progress is to be assessed annually, with a comprehensive review every three years.
An announcement is not yet a conservation success
The announcement does not mean that all measures are already in force or that new protected areas have been established. What matters will be which steps are actually funded, implemented and enforced.