The Arabian Humpback Whales numbered in large numbers seen along the Gwadar coast, which is a rare phenomenon in the Arabian Sea. More than six whales were reported to have been spotted in the sea by fishermen who were headed east and were between 11 nautical miles and Gwadar and were headed southwards under the leadership of Captain Ameer Dad Kareem.
According to WWF-Pakistan, this sighting signals a gradual rise in Arabian humpback whale numbers after years of decline. Technical Advisor Muhammad Moazzam Khan said the species is reappearing in Pakistani waters, which could mean the Arabian Sea whale population is slowly recovering.
Between 1963 and 1967, Soviet fleets hunted these whales, causing a severe drop in their population. Recent sightings near Balochistan’s coastal areas now show signs of natural balance returning in the Arabian Sea ecosystem.
WWF-Pakistan’s Senior Director for Biodiversity said repeated sightings of whales and other marine mammals along Sindh and Balochistan coasts highlight strong marine productivity. He credited local fishing communities for providing critical data on whales, dolphins, and marine life in Pakistan.
Experts note that Arabian humpback whales in Pakistan differ from other species because they live between Yemen and Sri Lanka and do not migrate to southern oceans. Their movement near the Gwadar coast reflects a potential recovery of the Arabian Sea’s marine ecosystem.
