Turtle meat smuggling on the rise in Karachi

KARACHI: The smuggling of turtle meat in the name of fish is on the rise.

The coastal areas of Karachi and Balochistan are a big habitat for sea turtles, but most of the trafficked turtles are of freshwater. In order to avoid any legal action, these turtles are caught in the dark of night, are immediately killed and the meat is dried.

From four to five turtles, one kilogram of meat is produced, which is sold to a trader for Rs6,000. If it is successfully transported abroad, it is sold for Rs40,000 to Rs45,000/kg. Freshwater turtles are found from Kashmore to Keti Bandar in Sindh.

To avoid strict checking by Customs, FIA and other institutions at airport, smugglers take the sea route. According to experts, these freshwater turtles are smuggled to Thailand, Singapore, Hong Kong, South Korea, China, Vietnam and Taiwan where turtle meat is consumed with great enthusiasm and demand for it has increased to such an extent that it is no longer possible to meet it from local resources. Turtles are being sold openly on Burns Road and Empress Market in Karachi. The survival of turtles found in the Indus River has been seriously threatened. According to environmentalists, the largest number of turtles in Pakistan are found in the Indus River. There are eight species and all are considered endangered. Their genocide and trafficking has been going on for a decade.

Turtle meat is used for medicine, jelly and food. The weight of a turtle ranges from 5 to 10 kg. Its price in the international market is about $1,600 (Rs160,000). Its meat is also eaten in some areas of Pakistan. In Sindh and Balochistan, there is a complete ban on catching, keeping and selling all types of turtles. According to the Wildlife Department Act, people guilty of this offense are often fined and released. Experts say that fines should be increased and imprisonment should be added so that the law could be implemented in a better way.