Oceans Day: Rising pollution imperils marine life

Oceans are essential to the survival of all life, as these roaring blue expanses guarantee food security, our health, and power the climate and biodiversity. This requires the government to aim its policies towards the three goals of sustainable development: environmental, social, and economic.

Pakistan is among those lucky nations, which are blessed with coastlines, stretching more than 1,000 kilometres along Sindh and Balochistan. The country owns more than 240,000 square kilometres area in the Arabian Sea, which provides sustenance to over 4 million fishermen.

According to Mohammad Moazzam Khan, Technical Adviser at the World Wide International Fund (WWF-Pakistan), 44 countries of the world were deprived of this gift of sea. “Pakistan has a vast sea of 240,000 square kilometres, which is home to 700,000 species of plants and aquatic life,” he said.

Because of this, the marine life is affected a lot. In the past, eight types of mangroves were found in the country’s coasts but now those species are limited to four. Dirty oil spilled from ships and launches and untreated industrial waste from factories into the sea are other major causes of marine pollution.

“The turtles found in Pakistan are considered rare in the world but they are dying because of this plastic. The nests of marine turtles found in Pakistan are facing extinction,” Dr Hussain warned. “There are eight species of dolphins and whales in Pakistan,” he added, pointing to threats to them.

According to Dr Hussain, mangroves also have economic value, stressing that blue economy could be supported by protecting the marine environment. “One hectare, which consists of 1,100 mangroves, if protected, can earn $35,000 through breeding of aquatic life, including shrimps and crabs.”