Dynamite Fishing: Marginal Fishers Response to Unfair Competition
Dynamite fishing in the Asian regions was a rampant activity during the 1970s. This is one of the major reasons why coral reef productivity went down in many places. The once abundant coral reef fishes were depleted in their habitats due to the destructive effects of dynamites that lay waste the coral reefs.
Dynamite Fishing is Due to Economic Necessity
Dynamite fishing may be viewed as something that arose due to economic necessity. Marginal fishers who practice this unsustainable method of fishing are actually victims of unfair competition imposed by the large, commercial fishers that use fine mesh nets and deplete even the coastal zones. Coastal villagers are highly dependent on the productivity of the coral reefs just next to their beach side cottages. Many of them could not afford even the luxury of engine-powered pump boats but would rely on the force of the wind to set their sailboats to the farther reaches of the sea.
Whenever the large, commercial fishing fleets come, the fishers were at the mercy of these big boats’ highly efficient nets such that some marginal fishers thought of responding to the inequitable distribution of natural wealth by using dynamites to be able to keep up with the competition. Dynamites would cost them a lot less compared to the big fish nets that require a significant amount of money to buy. They could easily scoop their catch (rather victims) where most are left uncollected to rot or get scavenged by other fishes.
Dynamite Fishers are Victims of their Own Folly
However, some of these dynamite fishers themselves are victims of their own folly. Many of them die whenever they miscalculate their act; some of them carry the scars all their life.
The blasted fingers of a once dynamite fisher reminds him of his destructive pursuits.
Since many of the governments in these places banned dynamite fishing due to its highly destructive nature, many of these fishers took other jobs. The fisher pictured above is now a tourist guide, narrating his experience in dynamite fishing and showing the evidence of his once dangerous occupation.
Great article. Unfortunately similar methods of getting lobsters our of Caribbean reefs are still being used. Lobsters hate chlorine bleach and in many countries such as the Dominican Republic, Haiti, and elsewhere, household bleach is being used on reefs with disastrous results. I saw this when I lived aboard for a few years in the region and the dead and bleached reefs always saddened me.
It’s a pity seeing bleached reefs. I love the coral reefs and will always want to see them. Lobsters in our place do not suffer from household bleach but are depleted due to overfishing. There is such great demand for these crustaceans despite its high price.