KARACHI: Pakistan has a diversified octopus fauna. The areas south of Karachi and Sonmiani Bay are the main hot spots of this species in the country.

This is one of the preliminary findings of a World Wide Fund for Nature-Pakistan (WWF-P) study which was shared on Friday to mark World Octopus Day.

According to the WWF-P, the preliminary results are encouraging and it is important the government initiate management measures for sustainable fisheries.

In Pakistan, 17 species of octopuses are found; of which 14 are oceanic species whereas four commercially important species are found in the coastal waters.

Whitespotted octopus (Callistoctopus macropus), sandbird octopus (Amphioctopus aegina), big blue octopus (Octopus cyanea) and common octopus (Octopus vulgaris) are mainly harvested from shallow coastal water by trawlers.

The octopuses are locally known as pachankara in Sindhi and mus in Balochi.

About 120 tonnes of octopuses are annually exported to China and Vietnam by Pakistan. In the offshore waters, two pelagic octopuses known as Argonauta hians and Argonauta argo are commonly found.

These octopuses have beautiful and delicate shells.

“Given the lack of information about the biology and abundance of this species in Pakistan, the WWF-P initiated the study last year in order to bridge the data gaps in the coastal and offshore fisheries of Pakistan,” said WWF-P technical adviser on marine fisheries of Pakistan Mohammad Moazzam Khan.

Found only in the oceanic environment, these creatures, he pointed out, were known for their distinctive characters, including eight arms, which worked semi-independently and hundreds of suckers; three hearts, blue blood and ability to change their colour and texture to camouflage within the surrounding.

“World export of octopuses is estimated to be about 50,000 tonnes. However, almost no information is available on the stocks of octopuses in the world oceans.

“Since octopuses are social animals and they do not form schools, therefore, estimation of their stocks using normal assessment techniques is not possible,” he said.

Decreased catches, he said, had been observed in some heavily fished areas of the world and some countries had imposed restrictions, requiring a closed season and minimum weight limits.

“But, in countries which contribute much of the current global octopus catch including the Philippines, Vietnam and Mauritania, the resources are only loosely regulated, making octopus populations vulnerable to over-fishing.

“It is ironic that there are no species of octopus currently listed on the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) Red List of threatened species,” he said.

Published in Dawn, October 8th, 2016