A large number of shells have appeared along Karachi’s Clifton Beach, attracting public attention as experts explain that the phenomenon is linked to stronger monsoon waves.
It is worth mentioning that seashells wash ashore when natural ocean currents, tidal movements, and storm surges carry discarded or dead mollusk shells toward the coast. In Karachi, massive shell washups along the Clifton and Hawke’s Bay coastlines are often triggered by severe heatwaves and seasonal shifts in wind patterns.
According to WWF technical adviser Moazzam Khan, stronger sea waves during the monsoon season often bring shells to the shore. The shells appearing at Clifton Beach are known as blood cockles, and their reddish color is caused by the presence of haemoglobin.
Moazzam Khan said these shellfish are consumed as a delicacy in many parts of the world. However, he advised citizens to avoid eating shells collected from Karachi’s beaches due to marine pollution, warning that they could be harmful to health.
The WWF technical adviser also said that plastic waste and other garbage found along with the shells are contributing to unpleasant odors and environmental problems.
He added that human activities are causing Karachi’s sea to lose its aquatic life and damaging the marine ecosystem.
