Skip to main content

No catch for the day: Pakistan's tuna trade caught in US-Iran crossfire

In Iranian waters, a strange trade is taking place — Pakistani fishermen exchange subsidised Iranian fuel for high-value tuna, a barter system now under threat from escalating United States-Iran tensions. Shah Zamin Khan is among thousands of Pakistani tuna traders whose lucrative business has been at a near standstill since February, when the war between the US, Israel and Iran began. The recent targeting of Iranian seaports by Washington has made matters worse. Iran's southern ports of Konarak, Pasabandar and Beris, which border Pakistan's southwestern Balochistan province and serve as key fish trade hubs, are among the sites targeted by US airstrikes in recent weeks. "Our businesses were already affected by the war but the recent targeting of Iranian seaports have turned the region into a no-go area for us over the past one month," Khan told Anadolu. Boat owners, according to Khan, have completely stopped sending their vessels to the Iranian ports fo...
Post a Comment

Blobfish wins New Zealand's fish of the year after years of ugly label

More than a decade after being labeled the "world’s ugliest animal," the blobfish (Psychrolutes marcidus) has made an unexpected comeback, winning New Zealand’s "Fish of the Year" competition. Organized by the Mountains to Sea Conservation Trust, the contest saw the blobfish secure 1,286 votes, outpacing its closest competitor, the orange roughy, by fewer than 300 votes when polls closed Sunday. The blobfish, known for its gelatinous, sagging appearance, has long been a subject of fascination and humor in online meme culture. However, its distinct anatomy serves a crucial purpose, allowing it to survive in deep-sea environments off the coasts of New Zealand and Australia. Unlike most fish, the blobfish lacks a full skeleton, scales, muscles, and a swim bladder, which typically helps fish maintain buoyancy. Instead, its soft, low-density tissue enables it to float effortlessly above the seafloor.         View this post on Instagram                       A post shared by 🫧🪸Under Water Stuffs🪸🫧 (@underwaterstuffs) Despite its online notoriety, the commonly shared image of the blobfish does not accurately reflect its appearance in the water. When brought to the surface, the sudden change in pressure disfigures its body, giving it the melted, grumpy look that made it famous. The blobfish’s victory in the competition highlights concerns about deep-sea conservation. While its exact population status remains unknown, its habitat is increasingly vulnerable to deep-sea trawling, a fishing practice that inadvertently captures and threatens blobfish populations. According to Konrad Kurta, a spokesperson for the Mountains to Sea Conservation Trust, the blobfish is often caught as bycatch during bottom trawling for orange roughy, another deep-sea species. Kim Jones, co-director of the trust, noted that both species face similar threats. "In some ways, it was fitting that blobfish and orange roughy were close at the end," Jones said. "They both live in deep-sea environments near New Zealand, and managing orange roughy habitats more carefully could also benefit the blobfish." The orange roughy, which came in second place, is considered a vulnerable species struggling with population decline due to overfishing. New Zealand dominates the global orange roughy market, accounting for about 80% of all catches. Among the other contestants in the "Fish of the Year" competition, most were classified as endangered or vulnerable species—except for the blue cod, which finished in last place with just 260 votes. While the blobfish's win highlights its cultural appeal, conservationists hope the attention will also raise awareness about the threats facing deep-sea ecosystems.

from Latest World News, International News | Breaking World News https://ift.tt/rq5mBvR
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

At least 32 miners dead after bridge fails at cobalt site in southeast DR Congo

A bridge collapsed at a cobalt mine in southeast Democratic Republic of Congo killing at least 32 wildcat miners, a regional government official said Sunday. The bridge came down Saturday onto a flooded zone at the mine in Lualaba province, Roy Kaumba Mayonde, the provincial interior minister, told reporters. He said 32 bodies had been recovered and more were being searched for. The DRC produces more than 70 percent of the world supply of cobalt, which is essential for batteries used in electric cars, many laptop computers and mobile phones. More than 200,000 people are estimated to be working in giant illegal cobalt mines in the giant central African country. Local authorities said the bridge collapsed at the Kalando mine, about 42 kilometres (26 miles) southeast of the Lualaba provincial capital, Kolwezi. "Despite a formal ban on access to the site because of the heavy rain and the risk of a landslide, wildcat miners forced their way into the quarry," said Mayonde. He said ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Indian devotees splurge on jets, gold idols as Hindu temple opens

The private jet parking lots at airports near the Indian city of Ayodhya are full and the shops have run out of gold-plated idols, as wealthy devotees prepare for the invite-only opening ceremony of one of Hinduism's holiest temples. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Asia's richest man Mukesh Ambani are among the 8,000 or so attendees at Monday's inauguration event for the Ram Temple, which devotees believe is built on the birthplace of Lord Ram, a sacred Hindu deity. The construction of the temple, which began after the Supreme Court awarded the site to Hindus in 2019 more than two decades after a Hindu mob razed a mosque there, triggering deadly riots, fulfils a key campaign promise of Modi and his Hindu nationalist party. Read BJP-promised temple transforms Ayodhya: Muslims, locals feel neglected The opening ceremony, organised by the trust that built the temple, comes months before a national election which the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party is widely expected to w...
Post a Comment
Read more

Arab countries, Pakistan likely to observe Eid on same day

The International Astronomy Centre confirmed on Wednesday that the crescent moon of Shawwal will be impossible to sight on Saturday, March 29, across all regions of the Arab and Islamic world. This is due to the moon setting before the sun, with the conjunction occurring after sunset. As a result, observing the crescent moon, whether by the naked eye, telescopes, or other means, will be unfeasible on March 29. For countries requiring an actual sighting to mark the start of Shawwal, Ramadan will likely extend to 30 days, with Eid Al Fitr falling on Monday, March 31. However, in some regions where the conjunction occurs before sunset, allowing the moon to set after sunset, some countries may choose to declare Eid on Sunday, March 30, following traditional moon-sighting practices. Notably, a partial solar eclipse will be visible at noon on Saturday in parts of the western Arab world, including Mauritania, Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia. This event serves as definitive proof that the cresce...
Post a Comment
Read more