Endangered ‘Koh Baradari’ guitarfish caught in Gwadar waters

KARACHI: A rare bowhead guitarfish, locally called “Koh Baradari” or “Bhuth-khair”, has been captured off Gwadar’s East Bay at a depth of around 30 metres, conservationists confirmed on Monday.

In a statement, World Wide Fund for Nature-Pakistan (WWF-P) said the specimen measured 140 centimetres (4.59 feet) in length and weighed more than 65 kilogrammes.

The organisation noted that the species is classified as Critically Endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List and is included in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which restricts international trade because of its high risk of extinction.

According to WWF-P, global populations of the species have plummeted by more than 80 per cent over the past four and a half decades, largely due to heavy fishing, and it has almost vanished from commercial landings worldwide.

WWF-P said it has been collaborating with fishing communities since 2013 to promote the safe release of accidentally caught guitarfish. However, it acknowledged that effective enforcement remains difficult, underlining the urgent need for greater awareness and coordinated action to protect the species.

Bowhead guitarfish are typically found in warm temperate and tropical coastal waters, usually at depths of less than 400 metres. In the past, they were caught throughout the year in Pakistani waters, particularly between January and March and again in May and September. Over the last 15 years, however, reported catches have dropped sharply, raising serious concerns about the species’ survival.