Astola Island — Local services in Pasni Tehsil

Astola Island, the first and the newly designated Marine Protected Area (MPA) of the country is in urgent need of prescribed actions for the conservation of its key biodiversity resources.

Experts addressing a consultative session on Astola management plan held here under the aegis of IUCN Pakistan under its Mangroves for the Future (MFF) Programme in collaboration with the Ministry of Climate Change emphasized the need for steps towards its conservation and collaborative management.

The purpose of the session was to discuss the development of Management Plan for the Astola Island, besides mapping stakeholders’ interest, potential threats and presenting the ecological findings of a baseline study of Astola undertaken by IUCN.

The management plan preparation process was registered to entail a participatory process including a defined vision, key management objectives for the MPA, filling gaps in knowledge on the biological and social resources of the area, identification of threats to the site and prescribing a co-management regime with differential responsibilities for various stakeholders.

Khizar Hayat Khan, Secretary, Ministry of Climate Change on the occasion appreciated the role of IUCN Pakistan and especially the MFF Programme in supporting and facilitating the declaration of Astola Island as a Marine Protected Area and its continuous support towards the development of a Management Plan for the island.

He also lauded the achievements and efforts of the National Coordinating Body (NCB) in this regard. The NCB has also supported various coastal studies, including an economic valuation of the coastal ecosystem.

“This was long overdue following the declaration of Astola as Pakistan’s first Marine Protected Area,” said Mahmood Akhtar Cheema, Country Representative, IUCN Pakistan.

He mentioned that IUCN Pakistan initiated a comprehensive ecological and resource use baseline of Astola Island MPA with the support from experts from various relevant government and academic organisations.

This baseline survey, he said is intended to serve as the foundation for the development of a management plan for Astola Island MPA.

Inspector General Forest, Syed Mahmood Nasir said that since Pakistan is party to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity, it is committed to declaring at least 10 percent of its coastal and marine areas as Marine Protected Areas.

He appreciated IUCN’s role in the declaration of Astola and its other areas that are being considered potential marine protected...

Astola Island, also known as Jezira Haft Talar(Balochi: زروان ءِ هفت تلار) Satadip or 'Island of the Seven Hills', is a small uninhabited Pakistani island in the Arabian Sea approximately 25 km (16 mi) south of the nearest part of the coast and 39 km (24 mi) southeast of the fishing port of Pasni. Astola is Pakistan's largest offshore island at approximately 6.7 km (4.2 mi) long with a maximum width of 2.3 km (1.4 mi) and an area of approximately 6.7 km2 (2.6 sq mi). The highest point is 246 ft (75 m) above sea level. Administratively, the island is part of the Pasni subdistrict of Gwadar District in Balochistan province. The island can be accessed by motorized boats from Pasni, with a journey time of about 5 hours to reach the island. Pakistan declared Astola as its first Marine Protected Area in June 2017 as part an international obligation of the Federal Government under the Convention on Biological Diversity and its Aichi Biodiversity The island consists of a large tilted plateau and a series of seven small hillocks (hence the local name "Haft Talar" or "Seven Hills"), with deep chasms and crevices, which are several feet wide. There are several natural caves and coves on the island. The south face of the island slopes off gradually whereas the north face is cliff-like with a sharp vertical drop 1982, the Government of Pakistan installed a lighthouse on the island for the safety of passing vessels, which was replaced by a solar-powered one in 1987. Between September and May of each year, Astola becomes a temporary base for mainland fishermen for catching lobsters and oysters. From June to August, the island remains uninhabited due to the fishing off-season, the rough seas and high tides. There is a small mosque dedicated to the Muslim saint, Pir Khawaja Khizr, which is used by the mainland fishermen during the fishing season. Ruins of an ancient Hindu temple of the Hindu goddess, Kali are located...

Astola Island, also known as Jezira Haft Talar is a small uninhabited Pakistani island in the Arabian Sea approximately 25 km south of the nearest part of the coast. Astola is Pakistan's largest offshore island at approximately 6.7 km long with a maximum width of 2.3 km and an area of approximately 6.7 km. The highest point is 246 ft (75 m) above sea level. Administratively, the island is part of the Pasni subdistrict of Gwadar District in Balochistan province. The island can be accessed by motorized boats from Pasni, with a journey time of about 3-5 hours to...