KARACHI About 30 species of hard coral and eight species of soft coral have so far been identified along the Sindh-Balochistan coast, up to Jiwani, while five species await identification, says a Karachi University marine biologist.

There is the possibility of still more coral species being found as extensive fossilised coral reefs occur along the Jiwani, Gwadar and Cape Monze coast, indicating the existence of a diverse range of coral species in the past.

Speaking to Dawn, Amjad Ali, a research officer at the Centre of Excellence in Marine Biology at Karachi University, asserted that the centre had conducted 'pioneering work in marine mammals, underwater coral and marine fin fish aquaculture'.

Mr Ali has been awarded the first MPhil degree on corals in Pakistan. His thesis, 'Distribution and diversity of corals in reef associated fauna inhabiting coastal waters of Pakistan', is the first comprehensive piece of research on coral species in this area. He worked under the supervision of Prof Dr Pirzada Jamal Siddiqui, CEMB director. Mr Ali is also the first marine biologist-cum-diver in Pakistan.
Explaining the structure and formation of corals and coral reefs, he said that corals were marine organisms belonging to the phylum Cnidaria. 'They typically exist in colonies of many identical individuals. The groups include vital reef builders, which secrete calcium carbonate to form a hard skeleton,' said Mr Ali. 

'The western Atlantic and the Indo-Pacific are the two main coral reef provinces in the world. Playing a vital role in harnessing fisheries' potential, coral reefs and their associated systems protect land from harsh ocean storms and floods and can be used to generate income through a sustainable eco-tourism industry. Some coral species have been identified as having medicinal value.'

Regarding the identification of coral species, he said a survey of 18 sites was conducted along the Sindh and Balochistan coasts, and Astola Island was identified as a 'hotspot' of coral and fish diversity in Pakistan.
 
'In fact, it has already been proposed to declare the island [and surrounding waters] a marine protected area, as it serves as a nursery for fish and invertebrate species. It is the only spot where patches of reefs have so far been discovered,' Mr Ali told Dawn. The sheltered northern side of Astola Island, he added, was particularly rich, with diverse hard coral communities in very shallow water. 'Though the survey showed that no true coral reefs seemed to exist at Astola, proto-reef formation was evident.' The work on corals was initiated in 2004 at the centre in collaboration with University Marine Biological Station at Millport, UK, under a British Council Higher Education Link scheme and the Higher Education Commission (HEC). Dr Rupert Ormond and Dr Weraleujak were also part of the team. 

Stressing the need for conserving the habitats of coral species, Dr Pirzada Jamal Siddiqui said 'The coral species are next to the rainforest in terms of productivity, and hence need conservation. The coral habitats are sensitive to environmental changes and face threats from a number of natural as well as man-made factors.  'For instance, the waste being released by power plants poses a serious danger to coral habitats that exist at Churna Island. No monitoring study has been done so far so one cannot say how much damage has actually been caused so far. At Astola, major concerns are the anchors dropped from ships and the fishing nets used by fishermen, which get entangled with corals, causing coral breakage and at times uprooting of whole colonies. Fishermen also throw away their junk into the sea.'
 
All these issues, he said, could be handled if the government realised the significance of this important marine resource and adopted an effective strategy for their conservation.