{"id":5385,"date":"2023-09-18T19:49:10","date_gmt":"2023-09-18T19:49:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/switch-in-fishing-methods-saves-thousands-of-dolphins-the-express-tribune\/"},"modified":"2023-09-18T19:49:10","modified_gmt":"2023-09-18T19:49:10","slug":"switch-in-fishing-methods-saves-thousands-of-dolphins-the-express-tribune","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/news\/switch-in-fishing-methods-saves-thousands-of-dolphins-the-express-tribune\/","title":{"rendered":"Switch in fishing methods saves thousands of dolphins | The Express Tribune"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\nKARACHI:
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

In 2013, at least 12,000 dolphins were killed in Pakistani territorial waters in the Arabian Sea, caught in the massive nets cast by fishermen.<\/p>\n

Those gill nets, locally known as \u201cbither,\u201d were notorious for their high level of bycatch.<\/p>\n

Pakistan\u2019s territorial waters are home to 25 kinds of dolphins, notably spinner, bottlenose and tropical dolphins \u2013 and these endangered creatures were falling prey to the nets in massive numbers.<\/p>\n

In just five years, however, the number of dolphins killed had plunged exponentially to a mere 186.<\/p>\n

Behind that drastic reduction was a small but crucial shift from that conventional fishing method \u2013 subsurface gill nets instead of the surface ones.<\/p>\n

As part of a pioneering project launched in 2012, over 700 local fishermen were trained to use the other type of nets, and the results of the change become evident over time, Mohammad Moazzam Khan, technical adviser for WWF-Pakistan, told Anadolu<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Since 2018, according to Khan, who headed the project, deaths of dolphins due to entanglements have become \u201cextremely rare, if not zero.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThere were no previous estimates or studies. It was believed that dolphins were being killed by these fishing nets, but there were no counts made until 2012,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

However, despite the massive difference with the shift in fishing methods, dolphins are still considered an endangered species, as some 100,000 are still killed annually in the Indian Ocean alone, Khan added.\u00a0<\/p>\n

More catch, less bycatch<\/strong><\/p>\n

The subsurface net, locally known as \u201ctilo,\u201d is placed 2 metres (6.5 feet) underwater, as opposed to the traditional gill net, a popular fishing method used to catch tuna and similar fish, especially by small-scale fisheries in coastal states of the Indian Ocean.<\/p>\n

They are also comparatively hassle-free, with much lower chances of waste and a quicker process overall.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe use of subsurface nets proved to be a great success,\u201d said Khan.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt not only reduced the entanglement of dolphins and other non-target species, but also substantially increased the catch of target species, including yellowfin and skipjack tunas.\u201d<\/p>\n

The bycatch of the traditional nets predominantly included cetaceans, creatures belonging to the family of whales or dolphins, and sea turtles, according to a WWF-Pakistan report.<\/p>\n

Before the switch, an estimated figure of more than 12,000 cetaceans and 29,000 sea turtles used to be annually entangled in gill nets, the report said.<\/p>\n

Read also:<\/strong>\u00a0Protect our dolphins<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

The subsurface nets have reduced the catch of some species of high monetary value such as billfish and dolphinfish. However, fishermen say they are able to make up for the loss because of the increased catch of target species like yellowfin, longtail and skipjack tunas.<\/p>\n

\u201cApart from more catch of tunas, the time being saved is another crucial benefit,\u201d Agha Mohammad Iqrar, a fisherman from Karachi, told Anadolu<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Iqrar, who started using subsurface nets six years ago, said he just has to arrange an extra piece of rope to convert the traditional gill net into a subsurface net, which costs him a mere 5,000 Pakistani rupees ($16).<\/p>\n

\u201cPreviously, we spent a lot of time to free the non-target catches, mostly dolphins, which would also damage our nets,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI haven\u2019t seen a dolphin entangled lately,\u201d added Iqrar, who just returned from a weeklong fishing trip.<\/p>\n

Entanglement of cetaceans is very rare nowadays, thanks to the new method, and even if they do get caught in the net their chances of survival are much higher, he said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n