A STUNNING view of Astola Island.
KARACHI: A recent four-day diving expedition undertaken to evaluate the environmental conditions of Astola Island in Balochistan found “amazing wildlife and a very healthy and productive marine ecosystem”.
The team didn’t find any evidence of coral bleaching as has recently been noticed around the Churna Island.
According to a World Wide Fund for Nature-Pakistan (WWF-P) statement released on Tuesday, the Indus scuba divers led by S.H. Momin Zaidi undertook surveys at important diving sites along Astola Island a Marine Protected Area and found coral and associated habitats teeming with marine life including important fish, such as barracuda, trevallies, hot-lips as well lobsters, fan-worm, sea urchins and soft corals.
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Dead corals in shallow water at Charna Island. Photo: Khizer Sharif
The Balochistan’s Environment Protection Agency has recommended closing the Charna Island for divers, fishermen and boats because of coral bleaching.
The agency prepared its report on coral bleaching and requested the government to stop tourists, divers, fishermen and boatsmen from coming to the area. Some people anchor their boats at the island and cleaned them. This should be banned too, the report recommended.
WWF-Pakistan study finds very healthy marine ecosystem around Astola Islands
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Tuesday Dec 15, 2020
WWF says that it is a “sigh of relief” that there were “no reports of coral bleaching near Astola Island” as it would have seriously affected the coral and associated marine life. Photo: File
Latest expedition reveals amazing wildlife and healthy ecosystem along Astola Islands.
Expedition was taken as it was feared that the Astola Island “may be at risk” ever since reports of coral bleaching near Churna Island had come forward.
Expedition team finds coral and associated habitats “teeming with marine life”.
KARACHI: A team of scuba divers have found that a “very healthy and productive marine ecosystem” continues to exist around the Astola Islands despite the coral bleaching reported near the Churna Islands.
Corals in Astola Island bristling with marine life
WWF-Pakistan calls for development of management plan for the island as a marine protected area
KARACHI:
To assess the environmental conditions of Astola Island, a team of PADI certified Indus scuba divers undertook a four-day expedition from December 3 to 6, 2020 to the area. The divers found amazing wildlife and revealed that a very healthy and productive marine ecosystem exists around the island.
It was feared that because of the abundant corals found in the area, and the recent reporting of coral bleaching near Churna Island, Astola Island may also be at risk. However, the divers confirmed that no coral bleaching was found on Astola Island, a marine protected area (MPA).
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Corals are habitats for hundreds of different species of fish and other wildlife under the sea. Photo: Khizer Sharif
After months indoors Khizer Sharif was thrilled to go back to diving at Balochistanâs Charna Island surrounded by steep cliffs, soft sand and gently crashing waves.
He had come here frequently for underwater
expeditions. âWe decided to go skin diving that day because the tides were