A shift from traditional surface gill nets to subsurface ones has led to a dramatic reduction in dolphin fatalities in Pakistani territorial waters. In 2013, an alarming 12,000 dolphins were killed annually due to bycatch in massive nets. However, a pioneering project launched in 2012, where over 700 local fishermen were trained to use subsurface nets, resulted in a significant drop to just 186 dolphin casualties in five years.
The conventional gill nets, locally known as “Bither,” were notorious for entangling not only dolphins but also other non-target species, including sea turtles. The new subsurface nets, called “Tilo,” are placed 2 meters underwater, proving to be a more sustainable and efficient alternative. According to Mohammad Moazzam Khan, technical adviser for World Wildlife Fund (WWF)-Pakistan, the shift not only reduced the entanglement of dolphins and non-target species but also increased the catch of target species like yellowfin and skipjack tunas.
Before the switch, over 12,000 cetaceans and 29,000 sea turtles were estimated to be annually entangled in gill nets. The subsurface nets have not only curbed these casualties but have also led to time savings and increased catch efficiency for fishermen. Although some high-value species like billfish and dolphinfish experienced reduced catches, fishermen have reported making up for the loss through higher catches of target species.
Agha Mohammad Iqrar, a fisherman from Karachi, highlighted the benefits of the subsurface nets, emphasizing reduced dolphin entanglements and increased chances of survival for any accidental entanglements that do occur. The successful adoption of this innovative fishing method not only protects marine biodiversity but also ensures a more sustainable and economically viable future for local fishermen.
Source: MIDDLE EAST MONITOR
