Marine life at risk from fishing waste

Experts warn of rising pollution along Karachi coast

KARACHI:

The use and disposal of plastic bags during fishing operations has emerged as a growing threat to marine life along Karachi's coast, with large quantities of waste being dumped into the sea, raising concerns over environmental damage and ecological imbalance.

The practice has been widely observed at Ibrahim Hyderi and other fishing jetties, where plastic bags are used to handle and transport fish catch. Large fishing boats carry plastic bags in bulk to store delicate fish during transport to shore.

The bags are used to protect sensitive species, particularly cuttlefish and squid, from damage caused by contact with other catch. Once the fish are transferred from large boats to smaller vessels and transported to various jetties, the plastic bags are removed and, instead of being properly disposed of, are discarded into the sea.

As a result, thousands of kilograms of plastic waste are being added to marine waters, posing a serious risk to fish, shrimp and other aquatic life. Experts warn that the accumulation of plastic waste is contributing to marine pollution and increasing the risk of ecological disruption.

Environmental specialists note that a single plastic bag can take up to 500 years to decompose. Over time, such waste breaks down into microplastics, small particles that enter the marine food chain and eventually become part of human consumption.

Fishermen operating in the area have urged the Sindh government to impose an immediate ban on taking plastic bags into the sea and to ensure proper disposal mechanisms, warning that continued negligence could further damage marine ecosystems.

Kamal Shah of the Coastal Media Centre also called for urgent intervention, stressing that the issue requires immediate attention to safeguard marine resources and the livelihoods of communities dependent on the sea.

Experts say plastic pollution has become a major global challenge affecting oceans, ecosystems and human health. WWF Pakistan's technical adviser Muhammad Moazzam Khan said marine systems are already under strain due to polluted water and other environmental pressures.

He explained that plastic bags, though seemingly insignificant, take centuries to decompose and eventually turn into microplastics, which are consumed by marine organisms and later enter the human food chain.

Moazzam Khan added that fishermen carry plastic bags on boats primarily to preserve the quality of delicate catch, as even minor damage can reduce its market value at both domestic and international levels. He also noted that certain fish species release substances that previously created sludge-like conditions at jetties, making separate handling necessary.