KARACHI: The discovery of a dead Olive Ridley turtle on Clifton Beach has renewed concerns about marine wildlife and pollution along Pakistan’s coast.
The turtle’s cause of death has not been confirmed. It may have become trapped at sea or caught in a fishing net, according to the report. WWF technical adviser Muhammad Moazzam Khan said Olive Ridley turtles once appeared in large numbers along Pakistan’s coastline, but now rarely visit local beaches to breed.
Khan noted that two turtles recently caught in fishing nets near Jiwani were rescued and returned to the sea. He said tracking research could help clarify where the turtles travel and breed, citing a tagged turtle that crossed the Arabian Sea to Oman.
The Fishermen Sajag Forum also voiced concern over the turtle’s death. Its leader, Muhammad Bakhsh Jat, called for marine protection measures that also safeguard fishermen’s livelihoods, and warned that plastic bags and other waste threaten sea life.
