Marine experts said the recent rise in the death of marine wildlife may be due to widespread pollution
This 40-foot whale was found dead at Juhu beach in January
If you’re wondering why so many sea creatures have washed ashore and died on Mumbai shores in the last couple of years, here’s a likely answer – it’s because of widespread pollution in the sea, particularly due to oil and plastic. In the last two years, as many as 17 marine animals — dolphins, whales, porpoises and sea turtles – have fallen victim to this crisis, which is set to get even worse after the Ganpati visarjan, when lakhs of Plaster of Paris idols were immersed in the sea.
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Latest victim
On Saturday morning, yet another dead dolphin washed ashore near Manori. The carcass was spotted by locals, who informed wildlife lover Ankit Vyas, who then passed on the information to the police and the Mangroves Cell of the forest department.
Experts in the field believe that several factors are responsible for the death of marine wildlife, including the destruction of their natural habitat. The worst culprit of this destruction is pollution of seas and oceans through harmful chemical effluents and oil spills. Another threat is the plastic waste floating all over Mumbai coasts, as well as discarded fishing nets, in which the marine creatures get entangled and die. Experts are also of the opinion that religious offerings that are dumped in creeks, end up flowing into the seas, and this is yet another factor for marine deaths.
Experts say
Director and senior scientist at the Bombay Natural History Society (BHNS), Dr Deepak Apte said, “There are multiple reasons for the death of marine wildlife. Shipping-related mortalities are on the rise as there has been an increase in shipping traffic. The reason for death could be propeller hits. Frequency of deaths of marine creatures near the Mumbai coast also indicates that the level of pollution is high in the sea, including pollution from oil and heavy metals accumulating through the food chain. Fishing-related mortalities caused due the use of fishing nets are also one of the reasons.” “The autopsy of the dead creatures should be done in a top-class laboratory to find out the exact cause of the death,” he added.
“While there has been an increase in the death of marine wildlife in recent years, the government doesn’t seem to be serious or even aware of the consequences if we keep losing our marine biodiversity. It is high time that concrete steps be taken to protect the marine wildlife,” said wildlife lover and activist Ankit Vyas, who has been following the incidents of marine deaths on the Mumbai coast.
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