Ifrah Naseem Malik, Student (University of Karachi)
Pakistan is considered one of the developing countries in
south Asia that has just started building its economy. The Karachi city,
anciently called Kolachi (fishing village), has a great value for Pakistan’s
economy in fisheries sector. But the exploitation and overuse of resources has
become a major threat. The common waters are shared by all but protected by
none and one of the main reasons seems to be the
lack
of awareness or care.
Overfishing has been a huge concern over the past few years. The
fishermen are fishing in more open and much deeper water. Unregulated fishing,
use of finer mesh-sized nets and by-catch are few of the many problems. Oyster
beds have been recently reported to be over fished to the brink of extinction.
But the fishermen continue to use closely knitted, nylon fishing nets,
locally known as Bhulo Gujjo, that are not only entrapping various forms of larvae but also
catch a massive number of oysters. It can
deplete fish stocks and inevitably destroy fisheries in the future.
Marine pollution seems to be another concern. Despite the agreement on London Convention on the Prevention of Marine
Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter, all kinds of waste be it
industrial, chemical, solid or other kind is still being thrown in the ocean. 65% of the litter on the coastal areas
consists of plastic bottles, wrappers, bags, disposable utensils, etc. (WWF). It is estimated
that 250 metric tonnes of plastic will be in the oceans by 2030, and
by 2050 there will be more plastic in the oceans than fish. The
medical waste and industrial waste are also disposed in the offshore waters. Karachi’s 15 million
residents generate about 12,000 tons of waste each day most of which is not
disposed properly and this untreated waste is
being dumped on the ocean. This makes it toxic for not only marine life but
also for human consumption when it is moved further up in the food chain of the
fish and shellfish. Consequently, there won’t be any safe seafood left for
human consumption or fish stocks might even deplete leading to a huge economic
loss.
However, there are few measures that can be adapted
for the long term sustainable use of the ocean. Firstly, there is a need for
fisheries monitoring, control and surveillance, limiting the catch and banning
illegal fisheries. Secondly, local fishermen must be given catch shares to individual fishermen,
cooperatives, or fishing communities for their exclusive use of
marine resources. Finally, eco-friendly industries should be encouraged at the governmental
levels and the dumping of hazardous waste must be checked by the authorities. Businesses should be convinced to have treatment plants that
measure up to international standards through government assistance. Such practices can help in
maintaining the sustainability and preventing the tragedy of the commons.
About the Author: Ifrah Naseem Malik, a student of Marine
Sciences in University of Karachi. She
has interests in ecology, conservation, wildlife, human-nature social and
psychological relationships and climate change. She is also a poetess and
artist by passion.
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