About a decade ago, a dozen or so species of dolphins and whales were spotted in the Arabian Sea (Dawn, January 05, 2008) and in the surrounding waters of Sindh and Balochistan. Much to the excitement of wildlife enthusiasts, these dolphins can still be sighted, especially during November and December, when they are in close proximity to our beaches.

In November and December 2019, countless pods of dolphins were spotted at Sandspit, Kund Malir, Miani Hor, Sonmiani and Damb, among other surrounding locations.

Miani Hor is a lagoon, 25m to 30m deep, 60km long and up to 5km wide. Three species of mangroves are found here and it is located along Pakistan’s coast off the northern Arabian Sea. According to a research paper by Mohammad Moazzam Khan, Technical Adviser (Marine Fisheries) WWF-Pakistan and chairman of Pakistan Whale and Dolphin Society, a resident, endangered population of about 60 to 80 Indian Ocean humpback dolphins exist in the lagoon. Likewise, finless porpoise, marked as vulnerable, can also be occasionally found in the same area, though in very small numbers.

Unlike the waters of Sindh where these dolphins are sighted during winter, Balochistan is home to resident dolphins found throughout the year. Dolphin-watching tourism has picked up during the past five years. It comes as a blessing for the coastal communities of Pakistan.

Whales, dolphins, and porpoises are aquatic mammals known for their intelligence. These are endothermic species known as cetaceans. The presence of these cetaceans is an indicator of a healthy ecosystem and the abundance of other marine species. Needless to say, efforts need to be made at the local level to protect these marine mammals and other migratory species, and illegal netting and poaching need to be strictly penalised.

The increasing presence of dolphins and whales in the Arabian Sea and the surrounding waters of Sindh and Balochistan should give heart to coastal tourism operators. But there’s more than one reason to cherish these cetaceans

However, it takes a few environmentally responsible individuals and organisations to draw the line between right and wrong when there is no implementation of laws. For instance, last year alone, there were two instances of dolphin rescue. During one occurrence, a two-metre long pantropical spotted dolphin was released by fishermen, about 176km southeast of Karachi, after it was inadvertently caught in a gill net used for fishing. On another occasion, another 1.5m long endangered Indian Ocean humpback dolphin was similarly caught and released along the coast of Balochistan.

While these dolphins were rescued and returned to the sea, these random acts of kindness and display of responsibility seldom occur, thus contributing to dolphin mortality. Thankfully, mortality rate, which used to be as high as 12,000 cases annually, has significantly declined now to an estimated 30 to 40 cases per year. Perhaps this can be attributed to the growing awareness created among fishing communities regarding sustainable fishing practices.

“Dolphin mortalities mostly occured because of the use of traditional fishing methods practiced by local fishermen,” says Khan. “The solution proposed to the fishermen was to lower the net at least two metres below the surface of the water. This resulted in dolphin mortality significantly plummeting from 12,000 in 2012 to only 183 in 2018, and to about 40 in 2019 which is a great achievement for us! The same method helped to save thousands of turtles from entanglement and perishing.”

Among the dolphins that exist in Pakistan’s offshore waters, Risso’s dolphins, humpback dolphins, spinner dolphins, bottlenose dolphins and the false killer whale (also a dolphin) have been found. As far as whale species are concerned, those that have been observed include Cuvier’s beaked whales, Bryde’s Whales, sperm whales, fin whales and the hump-backed whales.

Countries around the world have gradually banned the captivity of whales, dolphins and porpoises, with Canada having recently implemented legislation regarding the ban. In a Twitter trend under the hashtag #EmptyTheTanks, the news was hailed by animal rights activists. Dolphinariums globally accepted that containing marine mammals to entertain humans is nothing short of cruelty. In June 2019, Germany held the first-ever circus using holograms instead of live animals, eliminating concerns about cruelty to animals by presenting animal acts using technology.

Cities along the coastline have flourished as a result of growth in marine tourism, with dolphin and whale watching becoming popular activities. The idea is to observe these cetaceans in their natural habitat, without confining them in tanks. For instance, with numbers steadily increasing, about 15 million people go for whale-watching (including other cetaceans) annually around the world. Developing countries, in particular, are benefitting from this multi-billion dollar industry.

There is a huge gap when it comes to coastal tourism in Pakistan, considering that these mighty cetaceans do hit Pakistani waters, especially in winter, or are residents belonging to certain coastlines. Hence, there is great potential in terms of dolphin and whale-watching along the coasts of Sindh and Balochistan. So far, PALS Rescue’s adventure tourism wing, PALS Outdoors, is the only entity that has initiated dolphin-watching educational tours in Damb, Balochistan. The purpose is to uplift domestic tourism and create awareness through destination-branding in the province. This is the first time that an NGO has expanded its horizon and explored an emerging territory.

“Now is the right time to start prioritising developing avenues for ecotourism within our country, especially at scenic spots in Balochistan, which were earlier unheard of and lacked suitable infrastructure for visitors,” says Reza Samad, founder and president of PALS Rescue. “This is where government support is of utmost importance, so as to enable entities that have laid the groundwork for leisure and awareness-building trips. These will not only enhance domestic tourism but also generate livelihoods for the local community.”

Dolphins have unique communication skills and, according to the Smithsonian Magazine (July 22, 2013), are capable of using over 4,000 different whistles to communicate amongst each other; every dolphin has its own distinctive whistle and respond by making a whistling sound when it hears another dolphin call.

When it comes to maintaining equilibrium in the marine world, whales are known to store vast amounts of carbon dioxide and support the growth of phytoplankton. These marine algae use photosynthesis to transform carbon dioxide and sunlight into energy efficiently. An increase in phytoplankton by one percent is equivalent to two billion trees on land. With Pakistan among the top 10 countries worst-hit by climate change, these cetaceans are worth protecting and cherishing for more than one reason.

Heba Moeen is a communication professional and a hobby wildlife photographer, and possesses a keen interest in art

Published in Dawn, EOS, April 12th, 2020