Balochistan govt declares Churna Island as 'marine protected area'

Balochistan government on Thursday declared Churna Island as the second marine protected area (MPA) in Pakistan and hotspot of biodiversity.

The decision was made during a cabinet meeting chaired by the Chief Minister Balochistan Mir Sarfaraz Bugti in Quetta.

It is the second island in Balochistan that has been given protected status. The previous provincial government had declared Astola Island as a protected marine area in the country.

Both Islands are in the few marine areas that could be considered a hotspot for biodiversity.

Churna Island is located near Karachi,  and it is famous for its adventurous activities, including scuba diving, snorkelling, cliff jumping, and jet skiing. 

Moreover, it is also considered an important fishing point that assists fishermen from Karachi and Balochistan, in bread earning.

Experts believe that the marine ecosystem and biodiversity inhabited in Churna Island are under serious threat due to human activities, such as the development of power plants, single point mooring and oil refineries in the vicinity.

However, following the recent announcement, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) appreciated the Balochistan government, describing it as an important step towards protecting the ecosystem.

WWF Biodiversity Programmes Senior Director Rab Nawaz requested the federal and Sindh governments to take decisive actions to achieve the target of 30 x 30 by following the footsteps of the Government of Balochistan and declaring additional marine protected areas in Pakistan.

Churna Island is a biodiversity hotspot known for more than 50 species of coral and 250 species of fish as well as many invertebrates and vertebrates.