The Churna-Kaio Islands are an uninhabited, rocky archipelago in the Arabian Sea, off the coast of Pakistan, between the port of Gadani and the mouth of the Hub River in Hub District, Balochistan.[1] There are two main islands:
- Churna Island, which is the largest and most southern of the islands, lying about 6 km (3.7 mi) from the mouth of the Hub River;
- Kaio island (also known as Chota Churna or Little Churna), lying about 2 km (1.2 mi) west of Gadani Ship Breaking Yard, and about 16 km (9.9 mi) northeast of Churna Island.
- There are also a number of rocky outcrops along the coast between the two main islands.
 | |
  Churna–Kaio Islands  Churna–Kaio Islands | |
| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Location | South Asia |
| Coordinates | 24°54′N 66°36′E / 24.900°N 66.600°E |
| Adjacent to | Arabian Sea |
| Total islands | 2 uninhabited |
| Major islands |
|
| Area | 0.6 km2 (0.23 sq mi) |
| Administration | |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 0 |
Environment
editThe islands have a high level of biodiversity, hosting coral reefs and various whales as well as oysters.[2] In September 2010 there was an organised clean-up of the waters around the islands as part of International Reef Cleaning Day.[2]
There are various threats to their ecosystem including a nearby coal power plant (Hubco) next to the Hub River mouth, a large ship breaking yard at Gadani,[1] and an increase in snorkelling and diving by tourists.[3] For these reasons, the islands were declared an "Ecologically or Biologically Significant Marine Area" by the Convention on Biological Diversity in 2016.[4]
In 2017, a further threat emerged when the Bahria Foundation proposed to build an offshore LNG floating terminal close to Churna Island.[5]
In 2021 the Pakistan Ministry of Maritime Affairs reiterated the need to protect environmentally sensitive areas like the islands.[6]
In April 2024, local fishermen reported seeing a blue whale in the waters around the islands. This was seen as an encouraging sign for the biodiversity of the area by the Pakistani branch of the World Wide Fund for Nature.[7]
References
edit- ^ a b Khan, Muhammad Moazzam (2015). "Churna–Kaio Islands Complex, Balochistan Coast, Pakistan" (PDF). Convention on Biological Diversity. Retrieved 1 November 2024.
- ^ a b "Pakistan observes International Reef Cleaning Day". Dawn (newspaper). 28 September 2010. Retrieved 1 November 2024.
- ^ "The Concept of Ecosystem Ecology". University of Sargodha. Retrieved 1 November 2024.
- ^ "Report of the Conference Of The Parties To The Convention On Biological Diversity on its Thirteenth Conference" (PDF). Convention on Biological Diversity. 4–17 December 2016. p. 87. Retrieved 1 November 2024.
- ^ "Bahria Foundation LNG Terminal" (PDF). Balochistan Environmental Protection Agency. February 2017. Retrieved 1 November 2024.
- ^ Rogers, Alex. "The Blue Economy in Pakistan: Opportunities and Challenges" (PDF). Ministry of Maritime Affairs (Government of Pakistan). Retrieved 1 November 2024.
- ^ Ilyas, Faiza (9 April 2024). "Giant blue whale sighted off Gadani coast". Dawn Group. Retrieved 1 November 2024.