COVID 19 pandemic has shaken the basis of globalisation, and its tragic implications are disbursed across the continents. Economic, social, cultural as well as political practices and priorities of mankind have been challenged by a natural phenomenon, which has turned into a “global disaster” mainly due to inadequate preparedness. A comparison between mitigation strategy of China with USA, Italy or Iran clearly supports the reasoning that natural phenomenon of the disease itself is much manageable but inadequate response or preparedness has turned it into a sheer crisis. While scientists around the world are working dedicatedly to find solution to COVID 19, the governments are also rethinking the means and strategies to sustain economic development in the face of crisis. COVID 19 brings us the right lessons in right earnest that ‘preparedness against emerging challenges at the very beginning can save us from disasters’ and can also mitigate its spread to the other parts of the world. The lesson is very much apt for the crisis our oceans are facing today. The fact needs no emphasis that life on planet earth is dependent upon oceans. Vastness of Oceans often underestimates their sustenance value. Humans have been using oceanic resources carelessly for nourishment, travel, trade, energy, extraction of minerals, recreation and religious services for centuries; without taking into consideration their finite nature.
Seas and coastal zones around the planet form a single complex ecosystem, therefore, about 200,000 square kilometre area along the continental margins has been designated into 66 global Large Marine Ecosystems (LMEs) based on common marine traits. Maritime zones of Pakistan fall within an internationally recognized Arabian Sea Large Marine Ecosystem, commonly known as LME#32. According to scientists its undersea subsystems are ecologically fragile having unique physical characteristics, water flow, chemical properties and biodiversity. Environmental threats and non-traditional maritime challenges that are faced by the LME#32 are also unique to the region and are mostly trans-boundary in nature. For example, two thirds of world oil tankers traffic passes through the Arabian Sea and is the chronic source of marine pollution including; leakage from tanker traffic, de-ballasting, bilge cleaning and accidental oil spills etc. Arabian Sea LME is also considered sensitive towards natural disasters like Typhoons and Cyclones. A study by Pakistan Meteorology Department states that “over the time (in this region) the tendency of cyclones in terms of number may have been reduced but the intensity is increasing.” Further, Arabian Sea is known as the third largest fishing ground in the world. Fish capture trends in the region are increasing and it is one of only 6 LMEs identified in the world, where the fish catching trends are not decreasing. Which means that socio-economic dependence of people living in this particular region would gradually be increased in future, so that the need to prepare for management and mitigation against maritime challenges and environmental disasters. Dreadful discovery of world’s largest dead zone in the Arabian Sea in 2018, expended over an area of 63,700 sq miles, is the most threatening challenge for future of LME#32. An expending dead zone will have far reaching implications for human health, food security and maritime economy of the region. It is not hard to conclude that just like a natural pathogen, environmental calamity doesn’t recognizes national borders, neither living creatures undersea care about the state of political relationships between the humans living ashore. The point I want to highlight here is that it’s a real crisis and if ignored, will lead us to the point of no return. Therefore a regional strive to mitigate its spread is required.
Since, all costal marine ecosystems are bounded by common oceanic features, therefore should be managed an in integrated manners, without considering political boundaries. Even though, there are number of multilateral arrangements dealing with the marine environment and disaster management in the Region but, too often, political considerations supersede ecosystem-based thinking. The South Asian Seas Programme (SASP) of South Asia Cooperative Environment Programme (SACEP), which is an initiative of SAARC for example, adopted an Action Plan for the Protection and Management of the Marine and Coastal Environment of the South Asian Seas Region in 1995. Among other things, this committed the signatories, including all South Asian countries, for the “development and implementation of national and regional oil – spill contingency planning”. But unfortunately we don’t see much advancement on this front. Another regional body is the Indian Ocean Marine Cooperation Organization (IOMAC), which promotes cooperation among the surrounding states, but that has not yet produced any robust and actionable marine emergency protocols. While such organizations are certainly valuable and deserve all the effort necessary to achieve their full potential, they cannot replace the need for meaningful bilateral arrangements between the countries for the improved health of oceans and preservation of shared ecosystems.
It is pertinent to highlight that data sharing and exchange of information regarding natural disasters in the Arabian Sea Region is a general practice but currently being used as response generation tool, which is not sufficient though. There is still room for enhanced regional cooperation under due political patronage. The socio-economic benefits in form of fishing, tourism, climatic balance, recreation and shipping can only be sustained in LMA#32, if Integrated Coastal Zone Management approach is clubbed with a multi-sectored regional approach. Therefore, engagement of the regional countries in a workable collaborative model is critical. Sharing of facilities, exchange of expertise, joint preventive strategies and developing concept of shared responsibility as key to manage oceanic crisis in the Region. While emphasise should be on development of regional scientific research and support centres, Pakistan Maritime Disaster Management Board (PMDMB) and other relevant offices must also pursue and expedite the bilateral collaborations on areas shared earlier, at least with the boarding neighbours of LME#32. It is believed that communities play the most direct role in prevention and governance of risks. Therefore, focus should also be on development of an active and responsible costal community to act against any marine hazards though preventive measures. The uncertainty attached with non-traditional oceanic challenges and environmental threats necessitates having ‘just in time’ higher level dedicated efforts. Hopefully the world will mitigate the Corona crisis in coming years, but to address the real crisis faced by mankind in form of ocean degradation, the essence of cooperation and building mitigation capacity in the wake of COVID 19, must be remembered and taken forward to from land to the seas.
The writer is IOI Ocean Ambassador to Pakistan and a Maritime Researcher at NIMA, Karachi