Oysters under threat of extinction due to overfishing
Excessive hunting disrupts ecosystem, causing populations of various marine species to deplete
Over-hunting of oysters and clams seems to be the driving force behind the destruction of the marine ecosystem off Sindh and Balochistan coast in recent years. PHOTOS: EXPRESS
KARACHI:
Even though they are not much of a delicacy in Pakistan, local shellfish appear to have run out of luck. A burgeoning demand for clams and oysters worldwide seems to have caught up with Pakistan’s shores, threatening local mollusc species with overfishing.
Seas have a complex, yet well-coordinated ecosystem, based on various different species dependent on each other for their survival, food and reproduction.
The unusual or excessive hunting of any organism can disrupt the ecosystem and lead to inadequate supply or depletion of species, such as the mass number of jelly fish seen on the shores of Karachi’s beaches that marine life experts believe to be a consequence of such disruption.
High demand
Ruthless fishing in the local seas has caused many oyster species to go extinct, while many other species of fish are also endangered due to oysters lost to fishing. Closely-knitted, nylon fishing nets, locally known as Bhulo Gujjo, that are used for fishing not only entrap various forms of larvae but also catch a massive number of oysters.
According to fisherman, oysters found from hard, bone-shaped shells have a strong demand in foreign countries, for which they do not only use large fishing nets but also smaller ones and handmade rods. Bhulo Gujjo is commonly used in Thatta, Badin, Lath Basti and Kharo Jan for oyster hunting, according to sources.
Hundreds of dead fish wash ashore on Karachi's Sea View beach
Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum Chairperson Muhammad Ali Shah says that the uncontrolled hunting of any organism has adverse effects on the ecosystem. Oysters not only play a critical role in combating marine pollution, but also feed on insects while their faeces are consumed by a large number of fish.
According to Shah, oysters found in shells are not consumed in Pakistan but are in high demand abroad. They are eaten both in raw and cooked form. In addition, salty water inside oyster shells is ingested in the same way as water from inside a coconut.
The specialists
Fishermen of the Ibrahim Hyderi jetty specialise in hunting oysters. According to Ruksana Asghar Chaudhry, an official from the fisheries department, provincial authorities have taken measures against the use of lethal fishing nets to protect oysters and other marine species. As a special restriction, the government has banned hunting of oysters and small-sized fish and larvae.
However, any crackdown on fishermen results in protests and subsequent filing of cases against the fisheries department, she said, adding that the fisheries authorities, along with teams from Pakistan Maritime Security Agency, in their crackdown seized a large number of lethal fishing nets, but hunting of oysters continued on a small scale.
Razor clams
According to World Wildlife Fund Technical Director Moazzam Ali Khan, cigarette-shaped oyster specie called razor clam, locally known as Marori, is found in large numbers on the coasts of Sindh and Balochistan.
Migratory birds from various cold regions including Siberia usually make way to various lakes and water streams in Sindh and Somiyani, Balochistan. Due to the excessive hunting of razor clams, however, the number of migratory birds has drastically decreased in the last couple of years as they mainly fed on razor clams or oysters.
According to experts, the razor clam is found in a large number on the Sindh and Balochistan coastal belt. Fishermen throw salt on the deltas, because of which the oysters are forced to come to the surface. Once out, their hunting becomes easy. Families living on the coastal areas have made picking oysters a practice for decades, basing their livelihood on it. Both frozen and live oysters are exported on a large-scale to East Asian countries like Korea, China, Thailand and Vietnam.
These species form an important part of the marine ecosystem, which is why its hunting is discouraged. Oysters weighing tons are sorted and cleaned in various factories in Ibrahim Hyderi, along with shrimps and prawns. According to workers of the factories, the shells of oysters are used for ornamental purposes or sold as chicken feed.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 1st, 2019.
Even though they are not much of a delicacy in Pakistan, local shellfish appear to have run out of luck. A burgeoning demand for clams and oysters worldwide seems to have caught up with Pakistan’s shores, threatening local mollusc species with overfishing.
Seas have a complex, yet well-coordinated ecosystem, based on various different species dependent on each other for their survival, food and reproduction.
The unusual or excessive hunting of any organism can disrupt the ecosystem and lead to inadequate supply or depletion of species, such as the mass number of jelly fish seen on the shores of Karachi’s beaches that marine life experts believe to be a consequence of such disruption.
High demand
Ruthless fishing in the local seas has caused many oyster species to go extinct, while many other species of fish are also endangered due to oysters lost to fishing. Closely-knitted, nylon fishing nets, locally known as Bhulo Gujjo, that are used for fishing not only entrap various forms of larvae but also catch a massive number of oysters.
According to fisherman, oysters found from hard, bone-shaped shells have a strong demand in foreign countries, for which they do not only use large fishing nets but also smaller ones and handmade rods. Bhulo Gujjo is commonly used in Thatta, Badin, Lath Basti and Kharo Jan for oyster hunting, according to sources.
Hundreds of dead fish wash ashore on Karachi's Sea View beach
Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum Chairperson Muhammad Ali Shah says that the uncontrolled hunting of any organism has adverse effects on the ecosystem. Oysters not only play a critical role in combating marine pollution, but also feed on insects while their faeces are consumed by a large number of fish.
According to Shah, oysters found in shells are not consumed in Pakistan but are in high demand abroad. They are eaten both in raw and cooked form. In addition, salty water inside oyster shells is ingested in the same way as water from inside a coconut.
The specialists
Fishermen of the Ibrahim Hyderi jetty specialise in hunting oysters. According to Ruksana Asghar Chaudhry, an official from the fisheries department, provincial authorities have taken measures against the use of lethal fishing nets to protect oysters and other marine species. As a special restriction, the government has banned hunting of oysters and small-sized fish and larvae.
However, any crackdown on fishermen results in protests and subsequent filing of cases against the fisheries department, she said, adding that the fisheries authorities, along with teams from Pakistan Maritime Security Agency, in their crackdown seized a large number of lethal fishing nets, but hunting of oysters continued on a small scale.
Razor clams
According to World Wildlife Fund Technical Director Moazzam Ali Khan, cigarette-shaped oyster specie called razor clam, locally known as Marori, is found in large numbers on the coasts of Sindh and Balochistan.
Migratory birds from various cold regions including Siberia usually make way to various lakes and water streams in Sindh and Somiyani, Balochistan. Due to the excessive hunting of razor clams, however, the number of migratory birds has drastically decreased in the last couple of years as they mainly fed on razor clams or oysters.
According to experts, the razor clam is found in a large number on the Sindh and Balochistan coastal belt. Fishermen throw salt on the deltas, because of which the oysters are forced to come to the surface. Once out, their hunting becomes easy. Families living on the coastal areas have made picking oysters a practice for decades, basing their livelihood on it. Both frozen and live oysters are exported on a large-scale to East Asian countries like Korea, China, Thailand and Vietnam.
These species form an important part of the marine ecosystem, which is why its hunting is discouraged. Oysters weighing tons are sorted and cleaned in various factories in Ibrahim Hyderi, along with shrimps and prawns. According to workers of the factories, the shells of oysters are used for ornamental purposes or sold as chicken feed.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 1st, 2019.