A rare Olive Ridley sea turtle has been found dead on Clifton beach—a reminder that a species which once nested along Pakistan’s coast now faces fishing nets, plastic waste, and an uncertain future.
A sea turtle of a rare species has been found dead on Clifton beach.
The turtle belongs to the Olive Ridley species, which is found in large numbers in the Arabian Sea. It appears to have died after becoming trapped in the sea or entangled in a fishing net.
Olive Ridley turtles have largely stopped visiting the Pakistani coastline—including Karachi—for breeding purposes; twenty years ago, they were commonly found in Pakistan.
💡 Why this matters
The Olive Ridley is a migratory sea turtle that can travel thousands of miles across the ocean. Its decline along Pakistan’s coast signals pressure on marine life from fishing gear, pollution, and habitat change.
Recently, two Olive Ridley turtles that had become trapped in fishermen’s nets near Jiwani were successfully released back into the sea.
Turtles of this species travel thousands of miles across the ocean. In a neighboring country, researchers attached a GPS tag to an Olive Ridley turtle to study its migratory journey; the data revealed that, after being tagged, the turtle crossed the entire Arabian Sea and reached Oman for breeding.
Research and Responsibility
Similar research is also necessary in Pakistan. The “Fishermen Sajag Forum” has expressed regret over the death of this rare sea turtle on Clifton beach.
The exact cause of the turtle’s death could not be determined. The Chairman of the Fishermen Sajag Forum noted that plastic bags and debris in the ocean pose a threat to the survival of marine life, emphasizing the need to protect marine biodiversity while also safeguarding the livelihoods of fishermen.
