Pakistan · Spearfishing zone
Churna Island (recreational dive/spearfishing site, outside the MPA core)
What this zone is
Overview
How spearfishing is treated at Churna Island (recreational dive/spearfishing site, outside the MPA core).
Uninhabited island in the Arabian Sea ~9 km west of the Hub river mouth, on the Sindh-Balochistan boundary near Karachi. Popular winter (Sep-Apr) destination for snorkeling, scuba diving, fishing and spearfishing run by tour operators. Note: the island and surrounding waters were declared a Marine Protected Area in 2024 whose notification bans spear guns and scuba guns, so spearfishing there is now legally restricted/prohibited despite continued recreational activity.
What applies here
Restrictions
Specific rules and limits that apply within this area.
Spearfishing is reported by tour operators but the Churna Island MPA (2024) notification bans spear guns and scuba guns. Treat as restricted/prohibited within the protected area.
When it applies
Seasons
Time-of-year periods that affect spearfishing in this zone.
Practised mainly September-April (best Oct-Mar)
On the coast
Location
Approximate reference point for this zone. See the full picture on the interactive map.
24.8667°N, 66.6667°E
View on the mapSource
This zone is documented in the official source below.
Before you dive
License for Pakistan
Whether you need a license to spearfish here, and how to get one.
For EEZ fishing, via the licensing authority designated by the Federal Government (Marine Fisheries Department). Provincial fisheries departments for territorial waters.
Get your licenseOpens the official portal · fao.org