KARACHI: A baby porpoise was found dead on the beach in the West Bay area of Gwadar on Tuesday evening.

Deputy Director-environment Abdul Rahim of the Gwadar Development Authority (GDA) spotted the carcass. He told Dawn it was an Indo-pacific finless porpoise.

“The carcass was about two-foot long. The baby appeared to have been entangled in fishing net and beaten to death by fishermen,” he said, adding that this species had no commercial importance.

“This cetacean species lives in shallow waters where in recent months fishing activity has increased, resulting in greater by-catch and high mortality of unwanted species. The other reason for species’ mortality is the use of harmful monofilament gillnets,” he said.

According to Mr Rahim, who was earlier associated with International Union for Conservation of Nature and World Wide for Nature-Pakistan, the finless porpoise is listed on the Appendix II of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals.

“The species listed in this category have an unfavourable conservation status or would benefit significantly from international cooperation organised by tailored agreements. In the Arabian Sea, it’s declared as an endangered species,” he added.

About steps being made by the GDA for marine life conservation, Mr Rahim said there had been continued efforts by the government and non-government organisations to create awareness about marine life and their conservation.

He said: “There is a need for renewed efforts as several people, who have entered this profession after leaving other jobs, have no knowledge about the significance of ecologically important species, such as porpoises, dolphins, whales and turtles. Since these species have no commercial value, they should be released back into the sea.”

Published in Dawn, March 8th, 2023