Fishing waste. Photo: Express
KARACHI:
The use and disposal of plastic bags during fishing operations has become a growing threat to marine life along the Karachi coast, with large quantities of waste being dumped into the sea, raising concerns over environmental damage and ecological imbalance.
This practice has been widely observed at Ibrahim Hyderi and other fishing jetties, where plastic bags are used to handle and transport fish catches. Large fishing boats carry bulk plastic bags to store delicate fish during transport to shore.
The bags are used to protect sensitive species, including cuttlefish and squid, from damage caused by contact with other catches. Once the fish are transferred from larger boats to smaller vessels and transported to various jetties, the plastic bags are removed and, instead of being properly disposed of, are thrown back into the sea.
As a result, thousands of kilograms of plastic waste are added to marine waters, posing a serious risk to fish, shrimp and other aquatic species. Experts warn that the accumulation of plastic waste contributes to marine pollution and increases the risk of ecological disruption.
Environmental experts note that a single plastic bag can take up to 500 years to decompose. Over time, this waste breaks down into microplastics, small particles that enter the marine food chain and eventually enter human consumption.
Fishermen operating in the region have urged the Sindh government to immediately ban the dumping of plastic bags into the sea and ensure proper disposal mechanisms, warning that continued neglect could further damage marine ecosystems.
Kamal Shah of the Coastal Media Center also called for urgent intervention, stressing that the issue requires immediate attention to safeguard marine resources and the livelihoods of sea-dependent communities.
Experts say plastic pollution has become a major global challenge affecting oceans, ecosystems and human health. WWF Pakistan technical advisor Muhammad Moazzam Khan said marine systems are already under strain due to water pollution and other environmental pressures.
He explained that plastic bags, although seemingly insignificant, take centuries to decompose and eventually turn into microplastics, which are consumed by marine organisms and later enter the human food chain.
Moazzam Khan added that fishermen carry plastic bags on boats mainly to preserve the quality of delicate catches, as even minor damage can reduce their market value domestically and internationally. He also noted that some fish species were releasing substances that previously created mud-like conditions at the jetties, making separate handling necessary.
