Along Karachi’s coastline, a significant number of stingrays, locally called pittan, are being captured, sparking alarm among marine experts about the potential decline of their population. Fishermen are increasingly using nets near the shore rather than venturing into deeper waters, resulting in large-scale stingray catches.
Experts attribute the stingrays’ proximity to the coast to several factors. Monsoon-driven strong sea waves push them closer to shore, while their breeding habits also lead them to shallow waters. Additionally, stingrays tend to avoid larger predators found in deeper seas by moving near the coast, where they can better protect themselves and their offspring. Their coloration, which closely matches the coastal sand, provides effective camouflage, making them difficult to detect.
Food availability is another reason for their coastal presence. During the monsoon season, cockles and other shellfish wash ashore, and ghost crabs along the beach serve as an additional food source. Observations indicate a notable rise in stingray numbers in the waters off Sindh and Balochistan.
However, experts warn that ongoing extensive hunting, especially during breeding periods, could severely threaten stingray populations. The coastal environment is also under strain from pollution, with plastic waste such as bottles and wrappers littering the shoreline. Dead marine animals, including turtles, have been found along the coast, with reports of increasing such incidents across Sindh and Balochistan’s coastal areas.
Moazzam Khan, Technical Adviser at WWF-Pakistan, highlighted the large-scale hunting of stingrays along Karachi and Balochistan coasts. He noted a population increase over recent years but cautioned that stingrays with distinctive leopard-like markings might face local extinction if current hunting practices persist. Khan explained that stingrays are not consumed locally due to their unpleasant taste but are exported to countries like Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia. He pointed out a rise in the export of stingray wings over the past 12 years and warned that indiscriminate hunting could disrupt marine biodiversity and the overall ecosystem.
