How to Get a Fishing Licence in Sindh: Angling, Boat and Commercial Fees

To fish legally in Sindh, register with the Fisheries Department, then buy the licence that fits how you fish. Under the Sindh Fisheries Rules, 1983, a rod and line angling licence costs Rs 125 a year or Rs 10 a day, and a licence must be issued within one week of applying.

The fishing licence in Sindh comes from the Livestock and Fisheries Department. Its marine wing in Karachi and its inland wing in Hyderabad issue licences for anglers, fishermen, boats and fish dealers. The inland wing's own page lists 1,321 Category A and 3,564 Category B fishing licences issued.

We read the Ordinance, the Rules and both directorate pages on 3 October 2026. We did not apply ourselves. The fees below are the ones printed in the rules, and the department shows no newer schedule, so confirm the amount at the counter.

Who needs a fishing licence in Sindh

Anyone fishing in public waters in Sindh needs a licence or permit, whether they fish for sport or for a living. Every boat used for commercial fishing needs its own licence too. Rod and line anglers need an angling licence but not a boat licence.

Public waters means rivers, canals, lakes, drains and the sea within Sindh's limits. Section 4 of the Ordinance bans using a net, cage, trap or fixed device without a permit or licence. Section 12 bans running a boat for fishing without a licence, except for sport fishing by rod and line.

How to apply for a Sindh fishing licence

You apply in person at a Fisheries Department office. First you register with the licensing officer for Rs 10. Then you fill the form for your licence type, pay the fee and wait. The rules say the licence must be issued within one week.

1. Go to your nearest fisheries office. In Karachi and along the coast this is the marine directorate. Inland, it is the Hyderabad directorate and its district offices.
2. Register yourself with the licensing authority. Rule 3(5) sets this fee at Rs 10.
3. If you own a boat, register it too. Rule 3(6) sets this at Rs 50, and you must paint the registration number on both sides of the boat.
4. Fill the application form. It asks for your name, father's name, CNIC number, address, how you will fish, where and for how long.
5. Pay the licence fee and keep the receipt. The licence must be granted within one week unless the officer refuses in writing.

The licensing authority is a Fisheries Department officer not below the rank of Assistant Warden Fisheries. Bring a valid original CNIC. The commercial licence form has a space for a photograph, so carry two passport photos too.

The marine directorate says it now issues computerised registration cards and barcode licences. Ask for the card when you register.

Sindh fishing licence fees by type

The 1983 rules set an angling licence at Rs 125 a year and Rs 10 a day. Commercial licences cost Rs 800 to Rs 2,000 a year depending on the water. A boat licence costs Rs 200 to Rs 1,000 a year depending on its size and engine.

Angling licence fees

A yearly angling licence costs Rs 125, a quarterly one Rs 40, a monthly one Rs 20 and a daily one Rs 10. Honestly, the trip to the office costs more than the licence.

Commercial fishing and boat fees

A boat licence is charged per boat, per year. A gill net launch, trawler or fish carrier over 55 feet pays Rs 1,000. One under 55 feet pays Rs 700. A boat with an outboard motor pays Rs 350, and a sailboat or other boat without an engine pays Rs 200.

Fish dealers pay Rs 650, Rs 325 or Rs 80 a year, depending on how much fish they buy each day. They also lodge a security deposit of Rs 2,000, Rs 1,000 or Rs 500.

Rules that come with an angling licence

An angling licence lets you use two rods at a time, or one rod on a daily licence. You may fish from half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset. You cannot keep Rohu, Mori, Thaila or Mahseer under 12 inches.

• Catch limit: no more than five fish of Rohu, Mori, Thaila and Mahseer.
• Not transferable: the licence is in your name only.
• Closed waters: the licence does not cover any area closed to fishing, such as a declared sanctuary.

Commercial net users face a rule of their own. The mesh of a net used for Rohu, Mori, Thaila or Calbasu must be at least 15 centimetres all round.

Renewal, lost licences and penalties

A licence runs for the financial year it is issued in, so it ends on 30 June. Renew it within 15 days of expiry. A lost or damaged licence can be replaced for Rs 5. Fishing without a licence can bring a fine of up to Rs 10,000.

Section 21 of the Ordinance sets the penalties. Using a net or trap without a permit, catching protected fish, destroying fish or polluting waters can bring up to six months in prison, a fine of up to Rs 10,000, or both. Running a boat without a licence, or refusing to show your licence, can bring a fine of up to Rs 10,000.

The department enforces the net ban hard. Its marine directorate says it confiscates Bullo, Gujo and Katra nets, which catch young fish, and burns them under court orders. It held one such burning near Hawksbay Road on 20 August 2026. On 8 July 2026, the Livestock and Fisheries Minister announced a new Sindh Fisheries Security Services with 300 personnel to curb illegal fishing.

Why registration matters for fishermen

A registered fisherman with a licensed boat can qualify for government help. The marine directorate says Sindh announced a Rs 515 million fuel subsidy for 2,819 registered boats. An unregistered boat is invisible to schemes like this.

The page splits that subsidy into 2,331 Category C boats and 488 Category D boats, without saying what the categories mean. Farming families who also fish may be eligible for the Benazir Hari Card, which is a separate scheme run by the Agriculture Department.

If an office delays your licence past the one week the rules allow, write to the Livestock and Fisheries Department first. If that fails, the Sindh Ombudsman hears complaints of delay by provincial departments, free of charge.

Common questions

How much is a fishing licence in Sindh?

Under the Sindh Fisheries Rules, 1983, an angling licence costs Rs 125 a year, Rs 40 a quarter, Rs 20 a month or Rs 10 a day. Commercial licences cost Rs 800 to Rs 2,000 a year. Confirm the current amount at the office.

Can I apply for a Sindh fishing licence online?

No. We found no online application on the department's website on 3 October 2026. You apply in person at a fisheries office.

How long does it take to get a fishing licence in Sindh?

Rule 3(7) says a licence must be granted within one week of applying with the fee, unless the officer refuses in writing for a stated reason.

Do I need a boat licence to fish with a rod from a boat?

No. Section 12 of the Ordinance exempts sport fishing by rod and line from the boat licence. You still need an angling licence.

When does a Sindh fishing licence expire?

At the end of the financial year, on 30 June, unless the licence says otherwise. Renew it within 15 days of expiry.

Where is the Sindh Fisheries Department office?

The Livestock and Fisheries Department is at Barrack No. 90, opposite the Sindh Assembly Building, Karachi. Its listed phone is 021-99203291, from 9 am to 5 pm. Inland licences go through the Hyderabad directorate.

How we verified this

What we checked, where we read it, and what we could not confirm.

Last checked on 3 October 2026. The licence duties in sections 3, 4, 12 and 14 and the penalties in section 21 are read in the Sindh Fisheries Ordinance, 1980 as published by the Livestock and Fisheries Department. The Rs 10 registration, Rs 50 boat registration, one week issue time, financial year validity, 15 day renewal, Rs 5 duplicate, angling conditions, mesh size and every fee in the tables are read in the Sindh Fisheries Rules, 1983, in the consolidated copy on the same page. The barcode licences, the net confiscations, the Rs 515 million fuel subsidy for 2,819 boats and the office address are read on the marine fisheries directorate page. The licence counts are from the inland directorate page. The 300 strong security service is from the department's own news post of 8 July 2026, which reports a ministerial announcement. The department publishes no newer fee schedule, so the fees may have been revised since. We did not apply for a licence.