Experts say green waters along Balochistan, Karachi coasts pose no toxic threat
The Gwadar coastline glows green as Noctiluca blooms paint the sea. Photo by: Express
KARACHI:
Waters along the Gwadar coast have turned green, replacing the usual blue with a greenish hue, caused by a natural marine phenomenon known as the Noctiluca bloom, officials confirmed on Saturday. First widely observed in 2017, the phenomenon affects not only the coasts of Pakistan, but also large parts of the Arabian Sea, including Iran, India, Oman and the Persian Gulf.
Muhammad Muzammil Khan, technical advisor to DWLF Pakistan, assured that the green waters along the coasts of Balochistan and Karachi pose no toxic threat. The bloom was reported on Friday by Abdul Rahim of the Gwadar Development Authority, who noted that large sections of Gwadar’s western and eastern bays had turned green.
DWLF Pakistan, a joint venture between National Logistics Corporation (NLC) and DP World Logistics FZE (DWLF), clarified that such seasonal changes in water color are normal and have been monitored in Pakistan since 2012. Green waters usually appear during the winter months, from November to February. The most intense bloom occurred in 2017, spreading across the Arabian Sea and affecting neighboring countries.
This year, the bloom began in November along Pakistani waters, extending from coastal areas of Balochistan to Karachi. While some observers have erroneously associated the color green with eutrophication and the growth of cyanobacteria, scientific studies – including reports from Iranian researchers – confirm that it is a natural seasonal process. The phenomenon was also observed in Pasni, Jiwani and as far as Sistan in Iran.
Noctiluca is a small floating organism that can appear in red, orange, green, or colorless forms. Along the Pakistani coast, it is predominantly green or orange. The organism itself is not inherently green; the color comes from an internal pigment, Protogelina noctiluca, which allows it to multiply quickly. Naturally bioluminescent, Noctiluca often glows at night.
Khan stressed that the current green waters pose no health or environmental risks and have not been linked to the deaths of fish or marine animals. Observations since 2012 show that almost all Noctiluca blooms along Sindh and Balochistan are non-toxic. Misinterpretations often associate the bloom with pollution, but DWLF Pakistan emphasized that it is a natural marine phenomenon and not the result of contamination.
