Karachi: ‘Red Tide’ phenomenon witnessed at city beaches

[Naveed Yaseen]

By Jan Khaskheli
Red tide, a natural phenomenon around the global coasts and touching Karachi beaches now, is not a point of concern, marine expert claims. Red tide is a phenomenon caused by algal blooms during which algae become so numerous that they discolour coastal waters.

The News received information from different observers saying the sea waves may have shades of green colour along the Seaview beach, Karachi. However, a marine scientist, who was reluctant to be named, told The News that it is natural process, and happens everywhere annually in end March or at the beginning of April.

Locals call it ‘Mara Pani’ (smelly water), which is sometimes toxic and causes loss of marine life, seafood, plants, snails and oysters. In Pakistan, this natural phenomenon was recorded last in 1995, in which large number of dead dolphins was witnessed off the beach as well as tons of fish, he said.

Quoting history, he said that earlier, this phenomenon was marked a few hundred years ago in the region. “In 1907 after receiving such reports, the then British government formed a commission led by marine expert at that time, George Hornell, to look into the matter. He talked to local fishermen, who called the phenomenon “Mara Pani”, which almost wiped out fish and snail species along the wide country beaches and created alarming situation.”

He further said that different colours can be witnessed such as dark blue, greenish, yellowish and orange. He also added that during this occurrence, some times toxic plats grow underwater near beaches, which also adversely affects marine life. Regarding symptoms of diseases caused after eating fish from the rid tide, the expert claimed that those affected feel “burning fingers” instantly, which may put their health at risk.

The expert also said that coastal communities are fully aware of these natural changes in the sea. He pointed out that when small toxic plants grow, it may poison seawater, affecting entire marine life. In case of receiving sewerage water from close channels, the situation becomes alarming for marine ecology and communities residing near the place.

Dr Hina, a renowned marine scientist from the National Institute of Oceanography (NIO), Karachi denied such happenings, and linked the changing sea water colour to the affects of recent dragging channels started by the port authorities.

However, Karachi Port Trust (KPT) Environment Control Department Head Yahya Usmani denied that it was the affect of channel dragging. Usmani said that toxic algae some times spread through red tide that caused death of fish. He said however that they are going to observe the sea situation, and only then could they be able to give any input in this regard. He said that usually algae spreads from the sea bottom and spreads along the red tide. He said that there is no authentic data about the algae species, and which are toxic or non-toxic.

Khuda Ganj Shad of Mubarak Village, situated along the beach, recalled the affects of Mara Pani, which hit the wide area 13 years back, and told The News that it caused huge loss to beautiful snails and oysters, which was the source of income for several locals. Since then there has been found no snail and oyster in the neighbouring beaches, he said.

Shad termed the recent phenomenon as usual, saying that rough tides and bursts of winds might be forcing such a situation back. Hence, there is no alarming situation.

Qalandar Bakhsh, a lifeguard belonging to coastal village near the popular Hawks Bay picnic resort, described that red tide usually came from the open sea and caused a loss in marine life, but that depends on the intensity of toxicity in water.

Sixty-year-old fisherman Haji Taj Mohammed said that for traditional fishermen, it is a routine matter. It starts in the beginning or after the summer season. For the community people, he said, it is harbinger for the arrival of more fish stocks.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=171617