Green Turtle Found Dead at Gwadar Beach

Zareef Baloch

Gwadar: A green turtle was found dead on Surbandan Beach, raising concerns about the deteriorating safety of the coastal belt in Gwadar for marine wildlife due to increasing human activity.

On Wednesday morning, a local fish trader and Chairman of Union Council Surbandan, Gwadar, shared pictures of the deceased turtle found near the Surbandan coast.

“There is currently no government or non-governmental organization systematically collecting data on turtle populations in the coastal areas of Balochistan,” lamented Naseeb Nosherwani, who stumbled upon the lifeless turtle during his morning walk along the beach.

Nosherwani emphasized that the lack of awareness among local fishermen about the ecological importance of sea turtles is a significant issue.

Sudheer Baloch, a marine expert from Gwadar and former WWF-Pakistan researcher, highlighted the various threats faced by sea turtles.

“The primary threats in Pakistan’s coastal areas and exclusive economic zone (EEZ) include coastal fixed gill nets and trawl fishing.

Environmental factors might also play a role in turtle mortality, but without comprehensive research and long-term data collection, we cannot confirm their impact,” he explained.

The incident underscores the urgent need for awareness campaigns and systematic research to protect green turtles, an essential part of the marine ecosystem.