Why Did Oysters Wash Ashore at Clifton Beach Karachi?

A surprising natural event occurred in Karachi this week. On July 5 and 7, thousands of oysters and blood clams were seen washed up on Clifton Beach. People visiting the beach found both small and large oysters, many of them still alive, scattered across the sand.

The rare scene quickly became viral on social media. Residents collected oyster shells and shared photos and videos online. This turned the event into a trending topic across Pakistan.

In response, the Clifton Cantonment Board began a cleanup operation. They used heavy machinery to remove the dead oysters. Due to the high summer temperatures, the oysters started to decompose quickly, creating a strong smell in the area.

Marine biologist Moazzam Khan from WWF-Pakistan said the oysters likely washed ashore because of unusual wind patterns and strong tidal waves. These forces pushed the oysters from the seabed to the surface. He said that since many oysters were alive, the event was likely natural and not caused by pollution.

Usually, oysters end up on beaches as empty shells after dying in the ocean. But experts say this scale of live oyster wash-up is unprecedented for Karachi. It is the first time such a large number of live oysters and marine bivalves have appeared at once.

Clifton Beach, one of Karachi’s most visited spots, often faces pollution problems like plastic waste and dirty water. In past years, dead fish have washed ashore due to pollution. However, this latest oyster event is believed to be caused by natural ocean conditions, not by human-made waste.

This unique phenomenon has caught the public’s imagination, but also raised new interest in marine science and the health of Pakistan’s coastal waters.