Dr. Zafar Ullah Jattak

Dr. Zafar Ullah is a marine scientist, researcher, and Marine Spatial Planning specialist with extensive experience in ocean governance, marine resource management, and sustainable blue economy development. He holds a PhD in Integrated Management of Marine Resources Rights and Interests (Ocean Resources Management) from the Ocean University of China.

His areas of expertise include Marine Spatial Planning (MSP), ocean zoning, Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), blue economy development, coastal and marine governance, sustainable fisheries, Integrated Coastal Zone Management, and marine conservation. His research focuses on integrating ecological, social, and economic priorities into spatial planning and decision-making for the sustainable use of coastal and marine resources.

As Founder and Marine Spatial Planning Lead of oceaospace, Dr. Zafar Ullah provides scientific and strategic leadership for the development of spatial planning methodologies, marine zoning tools, suitability and conflict analyses, conservation planning approaches, and decision-support systems designed to improve evidence-based ocean management.

Dr. Aziz Ahmed is an environmental scientist, researcher, and academic with more than 15 years of experience in environmental research, teaching, institutional leadership, and environmental management. He holds a PhD in Environmental Sciences from the University of Malaya, Malaysia. His academic and professional work focuses on water and wastewater treatment, bioremediation, environmental microbiology, solid waste management, pollution control, environmental impact assessment, and environmental health and safety.

He has extensive experience in environmental assessment, regulatory compliance, and sustainability initiatives, including knowledge of EPA Balochistan regulations, environmental approvals, permitting, compliance monitoring, and environmental safeguards for development projects. He has also led environmental initiatives involving solid waste management, water, soil and air-quality assessment, and the preparation of technical manuals for coastal and fisheries-related infrastructure.

Dr. Aziz has served in several academic and institutional leadership roles, including Head of the Department of Coastal & Environmental Sciences and Research Manager at LUAWMS. His responsibilities have included research coordination, development of funding proposals, institutional research management, stakeholder engagement, research partnerships, and compliance with research and donor requirements.

As Environmental Sustainability & Safeguards Lead at oceaospace, his expertise supports the integration of environmental impact assessment, pollution and waste-management considerations, environmental safeguards, ecological risk assessment, and regulatory compliance into marine and coastal spatial planning and decision-support processes.

Iftikhar Ahmed is a marine scientist, researcher, and academic with professional experience in marine sciences, coastal environmental management, marine pollution, fisheries, and community-based development. He has been serving as a Lecturer at Lasbela University of Agriculture, Water & Marine Sciences (LUAWMS) since 2015 and previously worked as a Program Manager with the Grass Roots Assistance and People Empowerment Society (GRAPES).

He holds a Master's degree in Marine Plastics Abatement from the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), Thailand, and a BS (Hons) in Marine Sciences from LUAWMS. He has also undertaken professional learning in the planning and management of marine and coastal areas and has participated in marine survey activities aboard Pakistan Navy survey vessels.

His technical expertise includes marine survey techniques, water-quality analysis, biological specimen handling, field sampling and processing, experimental design, data collection and analysis, statistical analysis, scientific-instrument handling, and interdisciplinary research. His research interests particularly include marine plastic pollution, coastal ecosystems, fisheries, marine biodiversity, and sustainable management of marine resources.

His research work includes studies on commercially important marine fish species of the North Arabian Sea and research examining fishermen's perceptions of marine plastic pollution from commercial fisheries in Balochistan. He has also served as a scientific reviewer for research dealing with marine sustainability, fisheries, ecological relationships, and marine environmental change.

Iftikhar Ahmed has contributed to applied environmental and fisheries projects, including the investigation of ecological impacts of large-scale solid-waste disposal in Hingol National Park and the Strengthening Fisheries Management and Capacity Building in Balochistan initiative under the Gwadar-Lasbela Livelihoods Support Project Phase II.

As Marine Pollution & Coastal Sustainability Lead at oceaospace, he contributes expertise in marine-plastic pollution assessment, coastal environmental monitoring, marine field surveys, water-quality assessment, fisheries-related environmental research, and the integration of pollution and sustainability considerations into coastal and marine spatial planning.