A whale shark, a rare fish, was seen near Charna Island in Karachi. The Pakistan Boat Rally and Fishing Association (PBRFA) shared this news with media on Monday. PBRFA members took videos of the whale shark underwater. They also swam with it for about 20 minutes.
The waters around Charna Island are deep. The depth ranges from 20 to 60 feet. This area is full of marine life. Whale sharks and whales often come here to find food. They visit during the winter or after the monsoon season. Minerals from mountains wash into the sea through the Hub River. These minerals enrich the waters, making them ideal for marine life.
PBRFA President Ahmed Mamoor Amimi called the sighting a “gift to all Pakistanis.” He praised Manan Sheikh, a PBRFA member, for showing the beauty of Pakistan’s waters.
The PBRFA also said that about 150,000 whale sharks remain worldwide. The whale shark is an endangered species. This fish is found along Pakistan’s coast. It is called Andhi Mangar in Sindhi and Baraan in Balochi. Whale sharks give birth to baby fish near Charna Island.
Whale sharks were once hunted until 1970. Now, fishermen are working hard to protect them.
How Do Whale Sharks Filter Feed to Sustain Their Massive Size?
Whale sharks are the largest fish in the ocean. They might even be the biggest ever. They live in warm tropical waters. They swim near the surface to find food. The biggest whale shark ever recorded was 19 meters long. It weighed over 15 tonnes. Even though they are huge, they are not dangerous. People call them the sea’s gentle giants. Whale sharks don’t hunt. They don’t stalk their prey. Instead, they filter-feed. They peacefully swim and show curiosity around humans.
Whale sharks are easy to recognize. They have dark skin with light lines. These lines make a checkered pattern on their bodies. They also have many light-colored spots on their skin. Their bellies are white. Whale sharks eat in a special way. They open their big mouths, swallow water, and filter out small creatures. They use their gills to do this.
Whale sharks are important for the ocean. They help keep plankton and algae levels balanced. If there’s too much of either, it could block sunlight and reduce oxygen in the water. This would harm the ocean ecosystem. Small fish benefit from whale sharks too. These fish eat the parasites on whale sharks’ skin. They also swim close to whale sharks for protection from predators.
The scientific name of a whale shark is Rhincodon typus. It’s the only species in its genus. Scientists sometimes place it in the Orectolobidae family, known as carpet sharks. But mostly, it stands alone in its own family.
To read our blog on “A huge rare whale shark accidentally caught by fishermen in Karachi,” click here.
