In the remote ecosystems of the Astola Island of the invincible Arabian Sea, lived a fish named Tatoo. With the cold water currents that splashed across her face, Tatoo lived happily along with the other fishes of the sea. They laid eggs in the vibrant coral reefs, visited mangroves, enjoyed cool water currents and breathed pure oxygen.

As days blended into nights and nights into days, Tatoo realised that the Arabian Sea was changing and things were not the same anymore. The water became more acidic, the colours of the lively coral reefs gradually faded away and the seawater became warmer.

One morning as the sun’s rays diffracted in the water, the baby fishes went to school for their swimming classes as usual. With the mother fishes guarding their eggs and young ones, Tatoo noticed a bright thing floating in the water. Tatoo knew that it wasn’t the usual marine dweller, but something alien in the sea.

All of a sudden, Mr Jack, the turtle, swallowed it assuming it to be a jelly fish. Upon consuming the strange object, Mr Jack fell ill and died.

Gradually, the local news channel was flooded with reports of unusual happening in the sea, with fish dying of acidity in the oceans and being entangled in ghost nets. The waters of the Arabian Sea becoming hotter and mangroves diminishing made the headlines of newspapers.

Witnessing all the unusual and alarming incidents in the Arabian Sea, Mr King, Bryde’s whale, summoned a meeting. Mr King had lost many of his relatives and they were only a few left in the Arabian Sea. Among all the other fishes of the sea, Mr Hooch, the dolphin, was the most learnt and wise. He could communicate to the humans through gestures and seemed to understand things better.

“This is happening due to climate change,” Mr Hooch announced.

“What is that?” asked a surprised Mr King.

“It is a term used by humans for hotter days and colder nights on the land and in the sea,” the dolphin explained. “The water is warming up due to this and has become dirty because humans dump plastic and chemicals into the sea. We, the marine creatures, become weak and fail to thrive because when the water becomes hot, it doesn’t retain much oxygen. Moreover, the garbage and waste in the water are harmful for us, as we saw Mr Jack, the turtle, dying by swallowing something the humans threw in the sea.”

“The sea is sick and the corals are not the same any longer. We cannot hatch eggs there. They are losing their colour and are turning into white skeletons. We cannot even grow our shells,” complained the clam.

“Yes, the mangroves, which are a nursery for us, are dying because they can’t breathe properly like they used to. The ghost nets, which drift in the sea aimlessly, ensnare us. Cyclones, tsunamis and unpredictable weather calamities are plaguing our homes more frequently. The plastic and the chemicals from the industries have polluted our homes and if this continues to happen, there would be more plastic than fish in the sea,” Mr Hooch warned.

After learning this, Mr King order Mr Hooch, the dolphin, to tell the humans how their activities had turned a beautiful sanctuary into a graveyard.

“Since you can communicate with humans, go and represent us, the creatures of the oceans that cannot speak. Tell them that water becomes polluted when the chemicals from the industries are drained directly into the sea. Ocean water has become acidic. The coral reefs of the Astola Island, Hingol Island cluster, Manora and Churna Islands, that once served to be playgrounds for baby fishes, have turned into white skeleton through coral bleaching,” Mr King ordered.

“Inform them that we depend upon the infinitesimal creatures and algae for food to survive, which have dwindled over the years. Therefore, it directly affects you as fishes feed on them. When they find no food and the water becomes warm here, these fishes turn to greener pastures and colder waters. With few fishes to catch, the local fishermen will lose their source of income and food. From the tiniest plankton to the gigantic humpback whale, are connected with one another through a link known as food chain. Causing harm to a single one, disrupts the entire link. Tell them that from the sharks that sail in beaches of Karachi, to the dolphins of Pasni, are all yours. Protect them and the sea, lest they all die,” Mr King ordered.

Bryde’s whale asked the dolphin, to find a way to communicate the plight of the ocean creatures to humans. Mr. Hooch, known for his intelligence and ability to understand human gestures, devised a plan. He would lead the humans to the truth by guiding them to the evidence.

Mr Hooch swam to the shores of a bustling fishing village near Jiwani. There, he attracted the attention of fishermen by leaping gracefully out of the water and performing unusual movements. Intrigued, the fishermen followed him in their boats as he led them to a part of the ocean where the devastation was most visible.

The fishermen were horrified to see a vast expanse littered with plastic debris, ghost nets entangling marine creatures, and lifeless corals devoid of their vibrant colours. Among the debris, they found the lifeless body of Mr Jack, the turtle, with a piece of plastic lodged in his throat.

Realising the gravity of the situation, the fishermen decided to take action. They returned to their village and shared their discoveries with local environmental organisations and media outlets. Photographs and videos of the damaged ecosystem spread quickly, sparking widespread awareness.

Environmental groups launched campaigns urging industries and governments to reduce plastic waste, regulate chemical dumping, and implement conservation measures. The plight of the Arabian Sea’s marine life became a global concern, with people rallying to protect the fragile ecosystems of Astola Island and beyond.

Thanks to the efforts of the humans and the brave leadership of Mr Hooch, the sea slowly began to heal. The marine creatures continued their lives with renewed hope, knowing that their voices had been heard and that change was finally on the horizon.

Published in Dawn, Young World, January 4th, 2025