Muhammad Moazzam, Author at Maritime Current News

Unauthorised Salvage Operation at Gaddani: A Serious Threat to National Underwater Heritage and Marine Biodiversity

February 26, 2026 Muhammad Moazzam

Op-Ed: Salvage Operation at Gaddani: A Serious Threat to National Underwater Heritage and Marine Biodiversity

Coral reef habitats in Pakistan occur at a limited number of locations. These include areas off Hawksbay (between Abdur Rehman Goth and Cape Monz), Goth Mubbarak/Bhit Khori, Churna Island, Kaio Island, Ormara (Rodrigues Shoal), off Taq/Sakoni, Astola Island, Gwadar (off Headland), and the Daran-Jiwani region. Smaller reef patches are also present along parts of the Sindh and Balochistan coastlines.
Although restricted in distribution, these reef systems support a variety of marine organisms and provide habitat for many fish species. In addition to natural reef environments, shipwrecks along Pakistan’s coastline also influence local biodiversity patterns.

Unregulated Recreational Fishing is Fueling a Massacre of Our Marine Resources

Editorial

December 31, 2025 Muhammad Moazzam

Op-ed: Unregulated Recreational Fishing is Fueling a Massacre of Our Marine Resources

Recreational or sport fishing is considered important for health, conservation efforts, community building, and economic benefits through tourism, promoting a vital connection to nature while fostering stewardship, supporting fisheries management, and providing relaxation and social interaction. In Pakistan, sport fishing in the inland water bodies and coastal waters is also considered important, as it is mainly aimed at relaxation and for the provision of high-quality and protein-rich food. In the inland waters, the recreational fisheries are undertaken along large rivers, canals, lakes, reservoirs, and other water bodies. In some cases, sport fishing in freshwater bodies is associated with commercial fishing, which is mutually beneficial for the professional fishermen and those who engage in this activity for recreation. In most cases, sport fishing is undertaken in small scale and does not result in mass-scale killing of the fisheries resources and damage to the ecosystem.