‘We need a strategy for preserving biodiversity’

Four-day workshop on conservation of marine turtles starts.

KARACHI: Sea turtles play an important role in the marine ecosystem and hold significant economic and cultural relevance but they are threatened with extinction across the world, said Sindh Secretary for Environment and Alternate Energy Mir Hussain Ali on Monday.

Ali was addressing the inaugural session of a four-day workshop on Strategic Plan for Conservation of Marine Turtles in Pakistan organised by IUCN-Pakistan. He said the country was exposed to coastal degradation, which directly impacts marine resources and biodiversity. Untreated and contaminated water from industrial units enters into River Indus and eventually finds its way into coastal areas, where the breeding areas of turtles and other marine life are adversely affected.

Karachi generates 550 million gallons per day (MGD) of sewage of which only 50 MGD is treated, informed the secretary. However, steps are being taken to contain contamination, he added, referring to the waste treatment project by the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board, which is being carried out at an estimated cost of Rs13 billion. “We need a strategy not only for turtles but for biodiversity,” said Ali.

Dr Nicholas Pilcher, a turtle specialist and facilitator of the workshop, said Pakistan provides breeding and nesting grounds to three different species of sea turtles. “Besides Green Turtles and Olive Ridley, the Loggerhead also nests on Pakistan’s shores,” he said.

The expert also discussed the importance and relevance of Turtle Excluding Device (TED), a specialised device that allows captured sea turtles to escape when caught in fishermen’s nets.

Programme Coordinator IUCN — Pakistan Hamid Sarfaraz said the workshop aims to bring experts and stakeholders together to assess the economic gains from installation of TEDs in shrimp trawl nets.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 23^rd, 2010.