Coral Bleaching Reported in Churna Island

WWF Pakistan appealed to the government to declare Churna Island as a Marine Protected Area (MPA) after multiple reports of coral bleaching surface on Thursday, 26th November.

This is the first-time coral bleaching was reported in Pakistan, that too, at Churna Island. A WWF statement mentioned a PADI certified diver, Khizar Sharif, noticed several areas of serious bleaching in the north-eastern part of Churna Island while he was on his diving expedition.

Moreover, WWF termed the coral bleaching in Churna Island as a severe threat to the coastal biodiversity of Pakistan. Corals are known as colonial marine animals that live in clear shallow waters and are said to be related to jellyfish and sea anemones which form reefs in some areas of the world. As one of the most diverse ecosystems, these reefs are often called rainforests of the sea.

In Pakistan, most of these corals are found in small quantities around the Churna Island, Astola Island, Ormara (Rodrigues Shoals), Gwadar, and Jiwani in Balochistan. However, this coral bleaching in Churna Island is not a good sign.

Coral patches were originally identified in the 2000s along the coast of Pakistan. WWF further carried out Pakistan’s Wetland Program, where they studied these corals. In total, 55 live coral species were recorded from the coastal waters of Pakistan, which existed on a very limited area such as the Churna Island and were said to be prone to environmental change and other threats, especially pollution. Hence, the coral bleaching in Churna island.

Corals live in compact colonies of many identical individual polyps and obtain most of their energy and nutrients from zooxanthellae that live there. Negative environmental conditions such as unusually warm or cool temperatures, high light, and even some microbial diseases can lead to the breakdown of the relationship between coral and zooxanthellae. Due to such conditions, the corals expose the zooxanthellae causing it to turn completely white. This process is known as coral bleaching, which is happening right now in Churna Island, and it will eventually lead to the death of corals.

Mr. Muhammad Moazzam Khan, WWF-Pakistan Technical Advisor (Marine Fisheries) has suggested multiple reasons as to why this coral bleaching in Churna Island is taking place. He believes that the rise in sea temperature due to industrial activities such as the thermal plant, oil refineries, and single point mooring in the area.

The impacts of these activities are probably responsible for the coral bleaching in Churna Island. Moreover, he strongly opposes the establishment of a liquid petroleum gas terminal near the island. “If such development activities are carried out at Churna Island, then they will not only negatively impact the corals but may wipe out most of the rich biodiversity from the area,” Moazzam said.

Similarly, Dr. Tahir Rasheed, Regional Head Sindh, and Balochistan, WWF-Pakistan says that the only way to protect Pakistan’s coastal biodiversity and to curb the coral bleaching in Churna Island is to declare it as a Marine Protected Area. The decision is still pending with the Government of Baluchistan.

Once Churna Island is announced as an MPA, it will be easier to control industrial activities and manage tourism in the area efficiently. Ever since the increasing awareness of the island, it has become a popular tourism site for snorkeling and scuba diving.
However, that has given rise to considerable pollution and some divers are quite irresponsible and tend to damage or disturb the corals. All of this could be a prominent factor in the coral bleaching in Churna Island.

WWF Pakistan urges the government and the people to take responsibility and appropriate action to curb the coral bleaching in Churna island and save the ecosystem of Pakistan.

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