In a rare and exciting marine sighting, four Bryde’s whales were spotted near the Gwadar coast on October 23, 2025, marking the first observation since November 2023 in Jiwani, Balochistan. The whales were seen by a fishing boat captained by Amir Dad Karim while conducting sardine gillnetting around Demi Zur, approximately five kilometres north of their operation area.
WWF-Pakistan confirmed that the whales were likely moving toward coastal waters, possibly in search of food. Bryde’s whales, a species typically found in warm and temperate oceans, feed on schooling fish such as sardines, anchovies, and mackerels, which are abundant along Pakistan’s coastline.
Muhammad Moazzam Khan, Technical Advisor at WWF-Pakistan, emphasised the significance of citizen science in documenting these rare marine occurrences. “Observations from local fishermen and communities help us track marine biodiversity and build a comprehensive database of whales, dolphins, and porpoises in Pakistani waters,” he said.
Rab Nawaz, Senior Director for Biodiversity at WWF-Pakistan, praised the collaboration of coastal communities in protecting marine life. The organisation noted that Bryde’s whales, along with blue whales and Arabian humpback whales, are protected under Pakistan’s wildlife and fisheries laws, highlighting the importance of conserving the country’s rich marine ecosystem.
This sighting is a promising sign of a healthy marine food web, underscoring the ongoing efforts to strengthen marine conservation through active community participation.
Related stories:
Gwadar Marine Innovation Lab Boosts Fishing Economy
University of Gwadar to establish CPEC Study Center, Center for Marine Affairs and Marine Sciences
