Locals on Saturday discovered the lifeless carcass of a dolphin calf which had washed ashore on the Padi Zer Beach in Gwadar, Balochistan.
The discovery caused outrage amongst marine conservationists and activists who demanded that the government take action to protect marine life.
The dolphin was identified as an Indo-Pacific Finless Porpoise. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has listed the species as 'vulnerable' and usually found in freshwater sources. They are native to the Pacific Ocean, Asia and the Indian Ocean. Calves stay close to their mothers after birth.
Abdul Rahim Baloch, the Deputy Director of Environment at the Gwadar Development Authority, the exact cause of the death of the dolphin calf remains unknown.
However, he feared that the dolphin calf may have fallen victim to plastic wire nets, commonly used by illegal trawlers, pointing to the urgent need for stricter regulations to safeguard marine life in the region.
Sudheer Ahmed, a marine scientist from Jiwani in Gwadar, emphasized the crucial role finless porpoises play in maintaining the marine ecology of the region.
"Like other harbour porpoises and dolphins, finless porpoises are apex predators in the food chain," Ahmed stated, adding, "They control the population of other marine species such as fishes and squids, ensuring the delicate balance of our marine ecosystem."
However, marine life activists such as Abdullah Rahim Baloch expressed concerns about the rampant use of harmful fishing methods, including gill nets employed by trawlers.
Baloch condemned illegal fishing off the coast of Gwadar and called on the government to take immediate action against using illegal wire nets. He believes these practices are leading to a decline in marine population and causing marine pollution in the region.
Despite existing government organizations and laws dedicated to the protection and conservation of marine life, the lack of strict enforcement has allowed these illegal practices to persist.
Activists and scientists are now calling for stern action against the trawlers mafia and implementing stringent regulations to save marine biodiversity in Balochistan's coastal areas.