Blast fishing
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Blast fishing or dynamite fishing describes the practice of using dynamite, homemade bombs, or other explosives to stun or kill schools of fish for easy collection. This often illegal practice can be extremely destructive to the surrounding ecosystem, as the shockwaves often destroy the underlying habitat (such as coral reefs close to a coastline) that supports the fish.[1] The frequently improvised nature of the explosives used also means danger for the fishermen as well, with accidents and injuries.
Although outlawed, the practice remains widespread in Southeast Asia, as well as in the Aegean Sea and coastal Africa. In the Philippines, where the practice has been well documented[2] blast fishing dates back to even before the First World War, as this activity is mentioned by Ernst Jünger in his book Storm of Steel. One 1999 report estimated that some 70,000 fishermen (12% of the Philippines' total fishermen) engage in the practice today.[3]
Extensive hard-to-patrol coastlines; the lure of lucrative, easy catches; and in some cases outright apathy or corruption on the part of local officials make enforcement of blast fishing bans an ongoing challenge for authorities.[4]
Commercial explosives or, more commonly, homemade bombs constructed of a bottle with layers of powdered potassium nitrate and pebbles are often employed. These devices explode without warning, and have been known to injure or kill the person using them, or innocent bystanders.[5]
Fish are killed by the shock from the blast and are then skimmed from the surface or collected from the bottom. The explosions indiscriminately kill large numbers of fish and other marine organisms in the vicinity and can damage or destroy the physical environment, including extensive damage to coral reefs.[6][7]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ http://www.eoearth.org/article/Coral_degradation_through_destructive_fishing_practices Coral degradation through destructive fishing practices
- ^ http://www.tracc.00server.com/Fisheries/blast_fishing/economics.html Blast Fishing
- ^ http://www.oneocean.org/overseas/may99/a_closer_look_at_blast_fishing_in_the_philippines.html A Closer Look at Blast Fishing in the Philippines
- ^ http://www.spc.int/Coastfish/News/lrf/8/LRF8-05-Pet.htm Destructive fishing mini symposium at the 9th International Coral Reef Symposium, Bali, Indonesia
- ^ http://www.eoearth.org/article/Coral_degradation_through_destructive_fishing_practices Coral degradation through destructive fishing practices
- ^ http://stigmes.gr/br/brpages/articles/dinambr.htm Explosions In The Cretan Sea: The scourge of illegal fishing.
- ^ http://www.ecoreefs.com/damage.php Blast Fishing and Coral Reef Damage
