KARACHI: A WWF-Pakistan trained fisherman operating in offshore waters of Pakistan reported occurrence of a waterspout on 21 January 2019.This rare weather phenomenon was reported by Captain Saeed Zaman who was fishing for tuna about 57 nautical miles from coastline in offshore waters at Ghora Bari, Sindh coast. He recorded this spectacular waterspout which looked similar to a tornado. This rare weather phenomenon was precedingly reported by fishermen on 28 February 2016 approach Sakoni (off Kalmat Khor), Balochistan.According to Saeed Zaman, this massive waterspout was coming towards his boat but he managed to move absent from it. He shared that he observed a large patch of cloud on morning of 22 January from which waterspout could be seen descending. Other fishing boats operating in area also observed this massive waterspout but they also avoided approaching it.Contrary to its name, a waterspout is much filled with water but is a column of cloud-filled wind rotating over ocean&s surface. It descends from a cumulus cloud and water inside a waterspout is formed by condensation in cloud. There are two types of waterspouts i.e. tornadic and fair-weather. The clouds from which waterspouts descend are much fast-moving, so fair-weather waterspouts are often static. Both waterspouts require high levels of humidity and a relatively warm water moodature compared to overlying air. Waterspouts are most common in tropical and subtropical waters but this is moment authentic record of its occurrence from Pakistan coast. According to Muhammad Moazzam Khan, Technical Advisor (Marine Fisheries), WWF-Pakistan, waterspouts are genemass meeting formed along cumulus type of clouds. This type of waterspout is genemass meeting much associated with thunderstorms which genemass meeting dissipate in short time. Waterspouts have long been recognized as serious marine endangers. Stronger waterspouts pose threat to small boats. It is recommended that fishers keep a considerable distance from such phenomena. The average spout is around 50 metres in diameter, with wind speeds of 80 kilometres per hour. ‘Most waterspouts final for up to one hour, though average lwhetheretime is just 5 to 10 minutes&, he added.The formation of a waterspout takes place over five stages; first stage is formation of a disk on surface of water, known as a dark spot; moment stage is a spiral sample on water surface; third stage is a formation of a spray ring; fourth stage is where waterspout becomes a visible funnel; and lwhetherecycle ends and fwhetherth stage where waterspout decays. WWF-Pakistan appreciated alertness and vision of fishermen who have been trained to record such rare events including release of endangered marine animals.