Vanishing fish

As the wheels of industrialisation and urbanisation turn, the price paid by our environment becomes increasingly evident. One of the most profound effects is the alarming disappearance of natural water bodies and the subsequent threat posed to numerous aquatic species. In particular, the extinction crisis facing indigenous river fish in Pakistan is both disheartening and urgent.

The Fisheries and Aquaculture Complex at Manawan, Lahore serves as a poignant testament to this. What was once home to 169 specimens collected from the once-thriving rivers — Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi and Sutlej — now showcases the relics of vanishing marine life. Marine animals are displayed in the museum, not as thriving inhabitants of the rivers but as fading echoes. Aquaculture experts point to water pollution and the effects of climate change as the primary culprits. Environmental conditions have become increasingly unfavourable for the survival of river fish, pushing species like the Lahori Khaga to the brink. The introduction of foreign fish species, imported to expand the seafood market, has further accelerated the pace of extinction. Uncontrolled breeding of these non-native fish poses a direct threat to local fish populations, disrupting their natural growth cycles and driving them toward unexpected annihilation. Disturbingly, there is no national policy regulating the import of non-native fish species, leaving a void that facilitates unrestricted imports.

The Punjab Fisheries Department attempts to counteract this trend by annually preparing millions of fish and releasing them into rivers and barrages. While this is a step in the right direction, the gravity of the situation demands a more comprehensive and stringent approach. Urgent measures, including the formulation of a national policy on non-native fish imports and stricter regulations on aquaculture practices, are imperative to preserve the delicate balance of our aquatic ecosystems.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 2^nd, 2023.

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