Dynamite fishing

Dynamite fishing

PHOTO FROM TRANSPARENTSEA

Dynamite fishing is practiced in many countries and is a threat to marine animals and coral reefs in those areas. It involves throwing bottles of explosive made from fertilizers ( e.g potassium nitrate) into the sea. The explosion creates shock waves underwater, stunning or killing fishes, after which fishermen scoop the floating dead fishes from the surface or dive in to collect the fishes that sink to the seabed. However, besides just killing the targeted fishes, surrounding marine species and habitat are destroyed in the process. It is estimated that a 1 kg bottle bomb creates a crater of 1-2 meter in diameter, destroying 50%-80% of the coral reef in those areas ( Sea Shepherd, 2014). The coral reefs are reduce to rubble, turning the seabed into a "desert".

A 1 litre coca-cola bottle filled with explosive materials found near Capone island

PHOTO BY DIVEGALLERY

This method is relatively cheaper and faster compared to other fishing methods. Local fishermen can easily make explosive from common fertilizes, aluminum blast caps and matchsticks. As a result, it is widely practiced by the poor and the greedy for easy money.

PHOTO BY MARCOS CHRISTATO

Blast fishing is illegal and destroy the marine ecosystem and habitat. Furthermore, fishermen are prone to injures and accidents through this method of fishing. We need to stop blasting fishes!

References:

Sea Shepherd. 2014. Operation reef defense: protecting coral reefs worldwide. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.seashepherd.org/reef-defense/destructive-fishing.html. [Accessed 12 October 14].