KARACHI: A healthy population of whale sharks exists in Pakistani waters. While this species faces multiple threats, its fishing is effectively under control as no case of its mortality has been reported by fishermen over the past two years.

This information was shared by speakers at an online session organised on Monday to mark World Whale Sharks Day.

A large number of students from Karachi University, Lasbela University and members of the World Wide Fund for Nature Network participated in the event.

The whale shark is classified as an endangered species.

Speaking during the online session, Muhammad Moazzam Khan, technical adviser of fisheries at WWF-Pakistan, said the species was common along Pakistan’s coast.

“However, the area between Ras Malan and Churna Island and the offshore Indus Delta (between Khajar and Ghorabari creeks) is their hotspot. Besides, the Churna Island being considered a marine protected area by Balochistan government is an important basking, feeding and breeding area of this species,” he said.

“The government must devise a policy to reduce gillnet fisheries in Pakistan. Many countries have converted a large number of gillnet boats to longlining, which is considered comparatively safer gear against threatened species.”

Dr Andy Cornish, Leader of WWF’s Global Shark and Ray Conservation Programme, said that whale sharks were gentle giants.

“Despite being protected their populations continue to decline. Whale sharks are ocean nomads, wandering huge distances across ocean basins in search of food and mates.”

Hamera Aisha, manager marine programme at WWF-P, lauded the role of Sindh and Balochistan fisheries departments which legislated to protect whale sharks in 2016.

“This initiative established a basis for taking action against fishermen who deliberately catch whale shark or try to market,” she said, adding that 110 whale sharks had been safely released by trained fishermen since the start of WWF-Pakistan’s observer programme in 2012.

Published in Dawn, September 2nd, 2020