Uncontrolled dumping of plastic products in the terrestrial and marine environment has become a serious threat to the animals and plant inhabiting in the coastal and offshore waters of Pakistan. According to WWF-Pakistan solid garbage from cities and towns along the coastline makes its way to the ocean. An estimated14 billion pounds of trash, much of it plastic is dumped in the world's oceans every year.
Plastic bags, bottles, toys, packaging material, if not disposed of correctly, can reach the sea. Plastic waste, which decomposes very slowly, therefore, remain either floating in the open sea or piled up on the beaches Fishermen also contribute in this pollution by dumping an estimated 150,000 tons of plastic into the ocean each year, including packaging, plastic nets, lines, and buoys. According to another estimate about 8,000 tons of solid waste mainly consisting of plastic is unaccounted for in Karachi; most of it ending up in the sea around Karachi.
According to Moazzam Khan, Technical Advisor (Marine Fisheries), WWF-Pakistan, plastic pollution is becoming serious threat. Even in remote beaches along Pakistan coast including Kund Malir is now littered with plastic pollution. Commercial boats and merchant ships plying in Pakistan waters also contribute plastic through flotsam and jetsam. Floating plastic is mistaken as food item and many animals engulf them, in most cases, having serious and deadly consequences. High concentrations of plastic material, particularly plastic bags, have been found blocking the breathing passages and stomachs of many marine species, including whales, dolphins, seals, puffins, and turtles.
In a recent incident, tuna fishing boat operating about 180 nautical miles from Karachi, spotted a floating polypropylene (PP) woven bag which was possibly jetsam by some merchant ship. From the distance, it seems that the bag was moving in the waters. Amir Rahim who is a WWF-trained observer, decided to retrieve the bag and to hisutter surprise, found an Olive ridley turtle fully entangled in this PP bag. The crew tried to release the turtle in the waters but since it was fully entangled, therefore the crew brought the animal onboard and then carefully cut to free the anima, after which it was released properly in the sea.
According to Amir Rahim, he has seen many turtles entangled in the floating fishing nets but this is the first time he saw a marine turtle entrapped in a floating bag. He urged fellow fishermen and other seafarers not to throw plastic bags and other similar material overboard as these will kill marine animals.
Rab Nawaz, Senior Director - Biodiversity WWF-Pakistan appreciated the efforts of fishermen for releasing Olive ridely turtle from a floating plastic as this will set an example for other fishermen not to dump discarded fishing nets and other plastic material and would help in conservation of non-target species such as marine turtles.-PR