Catch of rare bowhead guitarfish near Gwadar sharpens biodiversity concerns

KARACHI: A rare and critically endangered bowhead guitarfish - locally known as Koh Baradari or Bhuth-khair - was caught last Sunday in Gwadar’s east bay at a depth of around 30 metres, once again drawing attention to the precarious state of marine biodiversity along Pakistan’s coast.

Rhina ancylostomus - the species is listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is included in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), which restricts international trade due to the high risk of extinction.

Scientists estimate that global populations of the bowhead guitarfish have declined by more than 80 percent over the past 45 years, primarily because of intense fishing pressure, with the species now almost absent from commercial landings across much of its range.

According to local sources, the specimen landed in Gwadar measured approximately 140 centimetres in length and weighed over 65 kilograms. Although individuals of this species can grow up to three metres long, sightings and catches of mature specimens have become increasingly rare in recent years.

Bowhead guitarfish inhabit warm temperate and tropical inshore continental seas, generally at depths of less than 400 metres. Their distribution spans the Indo-Pacific region, from East Africa and the Red Sea through the Persian Gulf, extending eastwards to Papua New Guinea, Japan, Australia, and Pakistan.

Historically, the species was landed year-round along Pakistan’s coastline, with seasonal peaks recorded between January and March, and again in May and September. However, experts note a sharp decline in catches over the past 15 years, reflecting sustained population collapse.

Biologically, the species is particularly vulnerable to overexploitation. Females give birth to only two to eleven pups per litter, a low reproductive rate that limits the species’ ability to recover once populations are depleted.

Since 2013, WWF-Pakistan has been working closely with fishing communities to promote awareness and encourage the safe release of accidentally entangled guitarfish and other threatened elasmobranchs. Despite these initiatives, weak enforcement and limited awareness continue to undermine conservation efforts.

Marine experts warn that without stronger protection, effective enforcement, and greater stakeholder engagement, the bowhead guitarfish could disappear entirely from Pakistan’s waters. The recent catch in Gwadar serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need to safeguard one of the region’s most distinctive yet imperilled marine species.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026