The route of rainwater was blocked due to development which shifted towards the houses of people.  Later the disaster happened in 2021 and then in the summer of 2022, when the climate crisis hit the whole of Balochistan, there rains in Gwadar damaged houses and infrastructure, affecting many. According to scholars, climate change is environmental colonialism and is manmade. Likewise, Gwadar has also borne the consequences of development through climate change. Historically, Gwadar has been a dry region where there were very low rains. These days the climate has entirely changed, not only does it have unusual rains but it is also resulting in increasing sea levels and longer summers. As a result, it affects people and their socioeconomic conditions. Fishing is the only source of income for the majority of people. Climate change has also affected fishing practices. Due to these harsh climatic conditions, there is a shortage of fish. Significantly, the indigenous fishing community demonstrates that this is due to climate change and the development that they have an extreme shortage of fish in the sea.

Another significant impact climate change and development have brought is the issue of sustainability. During the last two decades, the traditional fishing practices have significantly changed. The increasing usage of plastic nets for fishing is a major concern. Before this, the Meds (fishermen) used thread nets which are not harmful. However, it has become expensive and highly time-consuming. So, the younger Meds (fishermen) diverted to the usage of plastic which is cheaper and easy to use. Nevertheless, this short-term benefit is costing long-term issues. The older fishermen still advocate against the usage of plastic, plastic is harmful not only to sea creatures but also to the fishing community as it directly affects the fish.

Damage caused by floods in Gwadar. Picture by Mudassir Kareem

According to Meds (fishermen), the (Dimzer) eastern bay was very beautiful and the sea water was very clean before developmental works. However, these days it has become a site of dirt and waste material. Since the port construction, the eastern bay has become a site of dumping waste materials and dirty waters. The wastes of the port and the entire Gwadar are brought to the shores of the eastern bay. Consequently, the life of fishermen has become quite problematic. The entire waste and dirty water are brought towards the sea which is extremely harmful for not only the community there but also for the marine life. It has huge environmental repercussions. The Meds recall that due to this dirt and waste material, their children cannot catch fish on the shores, because of the dirt and waste the fish stay 20 km away from the shores. This development is changing the seascape in Gwadar, particularly in the eastern bay. The older fishermen protested against the responsible institutions, Port Authority, Harbour, and Gwadar Development Authority to stop this practice as it has extreme consequences for not only fishermen but for the overall environment of Gwadar. Gwadar Development Authority is one of the prime institutions carrying out the developmental works in Gwadar. However, it has not been eco-friendly. Today, Eastern Bay is a site where no one can visit. It is full of dirty water and this water has become mixed with the sea. Resultantly, it has affected the entire fishing practices, the fish and the sea. The seascape has completely changed today in the eastern bay.

The indigenous response has been very critical regarding these issues. As one anthropologist pointed out three paradigms of man and environment relation. The case study of Gwadar reflects towards the third stage which is Communalism. Communalism refers to the idea that there should be general reciprocity between humans and the environment (Gísli Pálsson). The fishermen in Gwadar are also of the idea that there should be eco-friendly approaches to economic practices. Nevertheless, they also believe that without securing the environment and ecology there is no way that socio-economic life is safeguarded. The Meds (fishermen) issues, caused due to this development and climate change is one case study of a larger discussion of sustainability. These fishermen have always been of the view that any harm to ecology, sea life, environment directly relates to the question of sustainability. Moreover, a threat to sustainability is also usage of plastic nets. The meds have long advocated against the usage of harmful nets. This not only harms fish but also the local ecology. Plastic nets are very dangerous and have very extreme consequences for indigenous people.

Baloch Fishermen. Picture by: Assa Wahag

However, the local capitalists have a huge influence on the fishery business. They were the ones who introduced the plastic nets and other harmful nets in the Baloch Sea. These capitalists have no concern for the ecology, environment, and destruction of Sealife. They only care for the profits and maximizing the quantity of fish. Currently, these capitalists own most of the fish factories and guide the fish practices throughout Gwadar. Resultantly, the indigenous Meds are marginalized and the traditional fishing practices have been slowly disappearing. On the other hand, indigenous and experienced fishermen have long advocated against ruthless fishing practices. These practices not only harm the economy of fishing but generate a new debate on sustainability. If fishing practices continued like this then the Baloch Sea would have no fish one day. All the significant fishes would be extinct just like some fishes which disappeared due to overfishing.

The writer is a resident of Gwadar and an M-Phil scholar in Political Science at Forman Christian College, Lahore.