The coastlines of Karachi and Balochistan have recently been marked by an unusual greenish discoloration of the seawater and a noticeable glow at night, a dramatic shift that has caused significant concern and alarm among local communities and fishermen who fear it signals toxic pollution.
However, the phenomenon, which had worried fishermen and local communities who feared it was caused by toxic algae or coastal pollution, has been clarified by the WWF as entirely natural, harmless, and seasonal.
ADVERTISEMENTView this post on Instagram
Noctiluca scintillans
WWF-Pakistan explained that the coloring is the result of a tiny floating organism called Noctiluca scintillans, commonly known as “sea sparkle.”
This organism can appear in various colors, including green, red, orange, or colorless.
Along Pakistan’s coast, the green and orange shades are the most frequently observed.
Pollution Remains a Separate Threat
However, the WWF emphasized that while the “sea sparkle” phenomenon is harmless, Karachi’s issue of unchecked coastal pollution remains a severe and separate crisis.
The organization stressed that thousands of tons of industrial and domestic waste, sewage, solid trash, and oil pollution continue to enter the sea daily via the Lyari and Malir rivers, posing a major, ongoing threat to marine life and coastal communities.
