Daily Times

KARACHI: Pakistan exports annually 120 metric tons of octopuses to China and Vietnam, as along the Sindh and Balochistan coasts, around 17 species of octopuses are found, of which 14 are oceanic species and four species are commercially important.

Marine experts have expressed their concerns that due to the over catching of the different species of octopuses, these commercially important marine octopuses are disappearing rapidly.

On World Octopus Day, experts have demanded provincial governments of Sindh and Balochistan to impose restrictions and also introduce closed season and minimum weight limits, so that the octopuses population can be maintained which is celebrated on 8 October every year to create awareness about the uniqueness of octopuses .

World Wildlife Fund for Nature-WWF-Pakistan has urged research organizations to initiate work on the biology of dominant species of octopuses along Sindh and Balochistan coasts.

“Students and the general public must be aware about the importance of these intelligent animals, in order to protect these species,” said Moazzam Ali Khan of WWF-Pakistan.

Found only in the oceanic environment, octopuses are known for their distinctive characters including eight arms, which work semi-independently and hundreds of suckers; three hearts, blue blood and ability to change their color and texture to camouflage within the surrounding.

According to WWF-Pakistan, white spotted octopus (Callistoctopus macropus), sandbird octopus (Amphioctopus aegina), big blue octopus (Octopus cyanea) and common octopus (Octopus vulgaris) are mainly harvested from shallow coastal water by trawlers. The octopuses are locally known as pachankara in Sindhi and mus in Balochi.

Presently about 120 metric tons of octopuses are exported to China and Vietnam annually from Pakistan, however, world export of octopuses is estimated to be about 50,000 metric tons and almost no information is available on the stocks of octopuses in the world oceans.

“Since octopuses are asocial animals and they do not form schools, therefore, estimation of their stocks using normal assessment techniques is not possible,” stated Moazzam Ali Khan.

However, decreased catches have been observed in some heavily fished areas of the world. Some countries have imposed restrictions, requiring a closed season and minimum weight limits but in countries which contribute much of the current global octopus catch including the Philippines, Vietnam and Mauritania; the resources are only loosely regulated, making octopus populations vulnerable to over catch.

“It is ironic that there are no species of octopus currently listed on the IUCN Red List of threatened species,” said Asif Ali Sandeelo, Senior Communication Officer, WWF-Pakistan.

Considering the lack of information about biology and abundance of this species in Pakistan, WWF-Pakistan has initiated a study on bridging the data gaps in the coastal and offshore fisheries of Pakistan. The study reveals that a diversified octopus fauna is found in Pakistan. Areas south of Karachi and vast trawlable grounds in Sonmiani Bay are the main hotspots of octopuses in Sindh and Balochistan. In the offshore water two pelagic octopuses known as Argonauta hians and Argonauta argo are commonly found. These octopuses have beautiful and delicate shells.