Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry has called for greater recognition of traditional ecological knowledge held by coastal communities, saying it can strengthen climate adaptation, marine conservation and sustainable fisheries.
In a statement marking the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, observed under the United Nations’ 2026 theme, “Honouring Indigenous Midwives: Safeguarding Life and Well-being,” the minister highlighted the broader importance of traditional and Indigenous knowledge systems and their transmission across generations.
He said traditional coastal communities had developed generations of knowledge about tides, fishing grounds, marine species, weather patterns, mangroves and coastal ecosystems.
“Traditional knowledge is not merely a legacy of the past. It is a living resource that can contribute to climate resilience, sustainable fisheries and the protection of our marine ecosystems,” Junaid Chaudhry said.
He said communities along the coast from Karachi and the Indus Delta to Gwadar and Jiwani remained closely dependent on fisheries, mangroves, wetlands and other marine resources.
The minister said fishing communities in Karachi’s coastal settlements faced increasing pressure from urbanisation, pollution and habitat degradation, while communities in the Indus Delta were confronting freshwater shortages, saline intrusion, erosion and changing fisheries.
He said similar challenges were being experienced by traditional fishing communities along the Balochistan coast, including those in Sonmiani, Ormara, Pasni, Gwadar and Jiwani.
Junaid Chaudhry said local fishers possessed detailed knowledge of tidal cycles, currents, winds, fishing seasons and changes in marine species. Integrating such knowledge with scientific research, he added, could improve fisheries management, ecosystem restoration and disaster preparedness.
“Modern science and traditional ecological knowledge should complement each other. Communities that have lived with the sea for generations understand changes in their environment in ways that can strengthen formal climate and marine policies,” he said.
The minister said climate change was already disrupting traditional livelihood patterns through changes in sea temperatures, fish distribution, rainfall, salinity, coastal erosion and extreme weather.
He called for community-based adaptation measures, stronger early-warning systems, climate-resilient coastal infrastructure and sustainable fisheries management.
Junaid Chaudhry also stressed the need to involve coastal communities in decisions concerning their natural resources, saying conservation policies would be more effective when local people were treated as partners.
“Pakistan’s blue economy cannot be separated from ecological security. Healthy seas, resilient coastal ecosystems and empowered communities are essential for sustainable maritime development,” he said.
The minister said the government would continue to support initiatives aimed at strengthening coastal resilience and ensuring that traditional knowledge and community participation were reflected in Pakistan’s maritime and climate policy.
