KARACHI: As winter temperatures dip unusually low in Pakistan’s southern port city of Karachi this month, demand for seafood has surged sharply, driving up prices across markets and restaurants and sending fishermen deeper into the Arabian Sea in search of prized seasonal catches.

Karachi, typically known for its mild winters, has recorded temperatures as low as 8.1 degrees Celsius in recent days, spurring heavy footfall at the city’s famed Keamari Seafood Street, where diners crowd open-air eateries for barbecued fish, fries and spicy karahi dishes.

Industry stakeholders say the colder weather has triggered a seasonal spike in seafood consumption, with demand rising by as much as 90 percent, particularly for larger winter species that are also sought by export markets.

Out at sea, fishermen also say winter brings a distinct change in both catch and income.

“The launches chase big fish that include ribbonfish, king mackerel, pomfret and mostly ribbonfish in this season,” said a 70-year-old fisherman at Ibrahim Hyderi harbor who only gave his first name, Adam.

“Summer brings species like prawns and kiddy shrimp to waters off Karachi and Gwadar coasts.”

“In winter, the demand for squid as well as other big fish remains very high. They sell well and fetch good rates for us,” added Adam, whose family has been fishing since 1970 and operates six launches.

He is among more than 100,000 registered fishermen affiliated with Pakistan’s Fishermen’s Cooperative Society (FCS), many of whom brave foggy winter seas to supply both domestic markets and export processors.

EXPORT AND PRICE HIKES

Pakistan’s marine fisheries sector contributes roughly one percent of GDP and earned $253.2 million in exports during July–December FY26, a 22 percent increase from a year earlier, according to the ministry of maritime affairs.

The export growth comes as Pakistan, grappling with external financing pressures, seeks to boost foreign exchange earnings.

“This season our seafood exports have crossed $250 million, and will hit the $600 million target for this year,” said Irfan Ahmed, in-charge at Ibrahim Hyderi harbor for the FCS.

Pakistan exports frozen fish, sardines, king mackerel, squid, ribbonfish, pomfret, flatfish species, shrimps, prawns, cuttlefish, fish meal and crabs, with China, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Thailand, Malaysia, Japan, the European Union, Vietnam, Kuwait and the United States among its major buyers.

“The demand for seafood shoots up [in winters] and therefore we at Fishermen’s Cooperative Society’s fisheries department facilitate the launches at our harbor to go and fish as much as possible,” Ahmed said.

At retail markets, the seasonal rush has translated into steep price increases.

“In this winter season, our demand has increased about 90 percent,” said Azam Khan, a fish retailer at Keamari Seafood Street.

The surge has pushed prices sharply higher, he said.

Seabream now sells for Rs1,200 ($4.30) per kilogram, up from Rs700 ($2.50) in summer.
King mackerel has risen 50 percent to Rs1,650 ($5.90) from Rs1,100 ($3.90).

White pomfret has doubled to Rs3,000 ($10.70) from Rs1,500 ($5.40), while red snapper has climbed 120 percent to Rs2,200 ($7.90) from Rs1,000 ($3.60).

“Normally, the price of Red Snapper is Rs1,000–900 per kilogram ($3.2). Right now, the price of Red Snapper has doubled,” Khan said.

“Everything has gone pricier,” he added, referring to Pakistan’s broader inflationary pressures.

RESTAURANTS PACKED

Despite rising prices, seafood restaurants report booming business, especially on cold weekend nights.

“In winter, people come with their families, and they only think about eating seafood like red snapper, seabream, javelin grunter, black pomfret, white pomfret and white barracuda fish,” said Muhammad Rashid, owner of Rashid Seafood, one of Pakistan’s largest seafood restaurant chains.

Rashid said his sales this season have risen by around 80 percent.

“Earlier at Keamari food street, people only had two fish to eat: tigertooth croaker and bartail flathead,” he said.

“Now, we provide the people all types of fish that exist in the sea.”

Asked about winter favorites, Rashid said:

“People like barbequed fish and prawn karahi the most. In barbequed fish, people like red snapper and black pomfret.”

Pakistan’s main seafood season runs from November through February, and traders say demand typically eases as temperatures rise and Ramadan approaches.

“The season is about to end. Ramadan is about to begin,” Rashid said. “I would like to add one more dish. It is called Tandoori Fish.”