Fisherman nets rare sea turtle
Loggerhead turtle’s discovery is a new addition to biodiversity
The loggerhead turtle was said to weigh around 30kg. PHOTO: COURTESY WWF-PAKISTAN
KARACHI:
Hasnat Khan knew at once that there was something different about the turtle he'd just found in his fishing net.
As it turns out, the Karachi-based fisherman caught the loggerhead sea turtle — the first reported encounter of its kind in the country — while fishing about 166km southwest of Karachi on Tuesday.
Green turtle returns to sea
This is the first time an authentic report has been received of the rare animal's existence in Pakistan's waters.
Khan said when he noticed different markings on the turtle's back, he knew it was a species of the marine turtle not seen before. With his crew's help he carefully removed the turtle from the fishing net, measured its weight and length, and released it safely back into the water. Hasnat measured the turtle's weight at around 30kg.
Officials of the World Wide Fund for Nature-Pakistan (WWF-Pakistan) said Hasnat is among 40 skippers and fishermen trained by the organisation on safely releasing non-targeted species, including turtles. Four species of marine turtles are known to exist in Pakistan, including the commonly occurring green turtle that nest on different sandy beaches along the coast.
42 turtles rescued from Sea View
Another species, the olive ridley turtle, used to nest on Pakistani beaches but no authentic sighting has been recorded for over a decade.
WWF-Pakistan officials say a few live specimens of the leatherback and hawksbill turtles have been reported from the coast of Balochistan during the last three years.
"It is the first authentic report of the loggerhead turtle being found in Pakistani waters," said Moazzam Khan, technical adviser on marine fisheries for WWF-Pakistan. "I think other fishermen also catch them but fail to notice it," he added.
Moazzam said the loggerhead turtle, scientifically known as Caretta Caretta, has a cosmopolitan distribution, nesting over the broadest geographical range of any sea turtle. It inhabits the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific oceans and the Mediterranean Sea, he said. In the Indian Ocean, a large population exists in Oman, which hosts around 15,000 nests, giving it the second largest nesting population of loggerheads in the world.
Pakistan to employ DNA barcodes to curb illegal wildlife trade
According to the World Wildlife Fund website, loggerhead turtles are named for their large heads that support powerful jaw muscles, allowing them to crush hard-shelled prey such as clams and sea urchins. They are less likely to be hunted for their meat or shell compared to other sea turtles.
Moazzam revealed that in 2010, it was reported that a loggerhead turtle was caught in Pakistan but investigations later indicated it was actually an olive ridley.
Khan said Pakistan's coastal communities are now more aware of the importance of marine turtles and a number of conservation-related projects are being implemented to save such species.
According to the WWF-Pakistan, a major fisherman training programme was initiated for the safe release of megafauna, which is very popular among fishermen. Since the start of the programme in March 2013, at least 17 whale sharks, three manta rays, two dolphins, one toothed whale, three sunfish and about 30,000 marine turtles have safely been released by trained fishermen.
"Fishermen, like Khan, are now vigilant and keen observers, able to identify the different turtle species and then safely release them back into the sea," Moazzam said. According to WWF-Pakistan, the present record of the loggerhead turtle is a new addition to the biodiversity of Pakistan.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 19th, 2015.
Hasnat Khan knew at once that there was something different about the turtle he'd just found in his fishing net.
As it turns out, the Karachi-based fisherman caught the loggerhead sea turtle — the first reported encounter of its kind in the country — while fishing about 166km southwest of Karachi on Tuesday.
Green turtle returns to sea
This is the first time an authentic report has been received of the rare animal's existence in Pakistan's waters.
Khan said when he noticed different markings on the turtle's back, he knew it was a species of the marine turtle not seen before. With his crew's help he carefully removed the turtle from the fishing net, measured its weight and length, and released it safely back into the water. Hasnat measured the turtle's weight at around 30kg.
Officials of the World Wide Fund for Nature-Pakistan (WWF-Pakistan) said Hasnat is among 40 skippers and fishermen trained by the organisation on safely releasing non-targeted species, including turtles. Four species of marine turtles are known to exist in Pakistan, including the commonly occurring green turtle that nest on different sandy beaches along the coast.
42 turtles rescued from Sea View
Another species, the olive ridley turtle, used to nest on Pakistani beaches but no authentic sighting has been recorded for over a decade.
WWF-Pakistan officials say a few live specimens of the leatherback and hawksbill turtles have been reported from the coast of Balochistan during the last three years.
"It is the first authentic report of the loggerhead turtle being found in Pakistani waters," said Moazzam Khan, technical adviser on marine fisheries for WWF-Pakistan. "I think other fishermen also catch them but fail to notice it," he added.
Moazzam said the loggerhead turtle, scientifically known as Caretta Caretta, has a cosmopolitan distribution, nesting over the broadest geographical range of any sea turtle. It inhabits the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific oceans and the Mediterranean Sea, he said. In the Indian Ocean, a large population exists in Oman, which hosts around 15,000 nests, giving it the second largest nesting population of loggerheads in the world.
Pakistan to employ DNA barcodes to curb illegal wildlife trade
According to the World Wildlife Fund website, loggerhead turtles are named for their large heads that support powerful jaw muscles, allowing them to crush hard-shelled prey such as clams and sea urchins. They are less likely to be hunted for their meat or shell compared to other sea turtles.
Moazzam revealed that in 2010, it was reported that a loggerhead turtle was caught in Pakistan but investigations later indicated it was actually an olive ridley.
Khan said Pakistan's coastal communities are now more aware of the importance of marine turtles and a number of conservation-related projects are being implemented to save such species.
According to the WWF-Pakistan, a major fisherman training programme was initiated for the safe release of megafauna, which is very popular among fishermen. Since the start of the programme in March 2013, at least 17 whale sharks, three manta rays, two dolphins, one toothed whale, three sunfish and about 30,000 marine turtles have safely been released by trained fishermen.
"Fishermen, like Khan, are now vigilant and keen observers, able to identify the different turtle species and then safely release them back into the sea," Moazzam said. According to WWF-Pakistan, the present record of the loggerhead turtle is a new addition to the biodiversity of Pakistan.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 19th, 2015.