Two Green Sea Turtles Rescued from Fishing Nets in Pasni
Zareef Baloch
Pasni: A successful rescue of two endangered green sea turtles at Pasni Beach on Friday has highlighted the increasing awareness of marine conservation among local communities along Pakistan’s coast.
The turtles became entangled in fishing nets early on 11 July while local fishermen were using small nets in shallow coastal waters to catch shrimp and fish.
According to marine experts, green sea turtles often move closer to the shoreline during the summer season, making accidental entanglement in fishing gear more common.
Social activist and writer Shakir Lal, who was on his routine morning walk along the beach, noticed the turtles struggling in the nets. He quickly freed both animals and safely released them back into the Arabian Sea before they suffered serious harm.
Marine experts welcomed the rescue, calling it a positive example of how timely human intervention can save endangered marine wildlife. They said similar incidents in the past often ended tragically, with sea turtles dying after remaining trapped in abandoned or unattended fishing nets.
Experts noted that awareness among fishermen and coastal residents has improved considerably in recent years. Instead of ignoring trapped turtles, many local fishermen now actively participate in rescue efforts and safely return the animals to the sea whenever possible.
The rescue comes amid ongoing concerns over sea turtle mortality along the Makran coast. Earlier this year, more than a dozen sea turtle shells were discovered along the beaches of Pasni and Gwadar, suggesting that many turtles had died from a range of causes, including accidental entanglement in fishing gear.
Green sea turtles regularly visit the coastal waters of Pasni and Gwadar for nesting and breeding. Conservationists say protecting these habitats and promoting responsible fishing practices remain essential for safeguarding one of Pakistan’s most important marine species and preserving the country’s coastal biodiversity.
