The world’s oceans are currently facing the biggest coral die-off in history. Climate change and rapidly rising sea temperatures have increased oceanic acidification, resulting in the mass bleaching of coral reefs. Heat stress from global warming and weather events like El Nino cause the metabolism of coral algae to speed up, which creates toxins and causes coral colonies to starve to death. But climate change isn’t the only thing affecting coral reefs. Dynamite fishing is wreaking havoc on delicate coral colonies around the world.
Blast Fishing
Dynamite fishing, otherwise known “blast fishing,” is illegal in many parts of the world, but despite government crackdowns, the practice is difficult for authorities to contain. Dynamite fishing is common across Southeast Asia’s Coral Triangle, and Tanzania has seen a resurgence of the practice as mining activity in the country has made dynamite more readily available.
Blast fishing isn’t a new technique. It was introduced to many countries by European armies. During World War I, it was common for soldiers to use grenades catch a quick meal.
Wave of Destruction
Dynamite fishing shatters fragile coral colonies. Even the smallest piece of dynamite can blast a crater two to three feet in diameter. The blast kills coral tissues, and the surrounding rubble prevents adjacent coral colonies from recovery. If the shallow part of the reef is decimated by repeated blasts, it’s impossible for the reef to recover. Many bomb fishermen don’t understand that once the reefs are gone, the fish will go too. It’s estimated that over 55 percent of the world’s reefs are threatened by overfishing and/or destructive fishing.
Dynamite fishing creates a wave of destruction. It not only threatens coral reefs, but it also leads to a decline in fish populations, affects coastal communities and small fisheries trying to compete with industrial trawlers, and has a negative impact on the tourist industry.
Coral reefs are an integral part of the ocean’s ecosystem. The climate-related death of the world’s coral is a planetary crisis. Fishing with dynamite only adds to the horror.
Images via Drajay1976 – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, NOAA’s National Ocean Service
