Destructive Fishing Words & Photography by Arjan Rajasuriya, IUCN, Sri Lanka Country Office

66 LT | AUGUST 2015 LT | AUGUST 2015 67 Effects of dynamite fishing on marine life in coral reefs oral reefs are among the most The southern and eastern coastal areas of Purse seining is a fishing method that Photo by Nishan Perera productive natural ecosystems in Sri Lanka are well-known for blast fishing. encircles an entire group of fish using a large C the marine environment. Coral Fishermen target species such as jacks net. This method can deplete fish stocks reefs harbour a large number of species (Family: Carangidae), and fusiliers (Family: rapidly if it is done by many fishermen and and it has been estimated at about 25% Caesionidae) that aggregate seasonally at regularly. Such a destructive large scale of all marine species are found on coral prominent locations on the reefs to spawn. fishing operation is taking place in the reefs. A coral reef functions as a buffer These species aggregate where currents northwestern coastal waters from Kalpitiya to against coast erosion and is a breeding and converge or where the reef structure is high Mannar. The net used to carry out the purse nursery ground of many species including and where other underwater habitats such seining is locally known as ‘Laila net’. There economically important reef fish and other as shipwrecks are present. Blast fishing has are different forms of modified ‘Laila nets’ species such as spiny lobsters, seacucumber increased recently with the technological and is used in combination with explosives. and chanks. The well being of coral reefs is advances such as geographical positioning It is responsible for the depletion of fish on severely compromised by human activities systems (GPS) and cell phones, their the coral reefs in the Gulf of Mannar and that damage the reef structure and reduce operations have become more sophisticated has sometimes caused the death of dolphins the diversity of reef species. Among a range in the past three to four decades. Nowadays when they too are inadvertently trapped of human activities that are detrimental to fishermen communicate easily with cell within the net. reefs, the use of explosives to catch reef fish phones and warn each other when a raid is Destructive fishing is taking place is the most destructive fishing method. This about to take place or when there is a large due to lack of management capacity. Four method is known as blast fishing or dynamite shoal of fish. It is difficult to determine the marine protected areas and three large fishing. Blast fishing destroys all living cause of death when fish are killed using Fisheries Management Areas have been organisms within the range of the blast. The dynamite. As a result, many blast fishermen declared under the Fauna Flora Protection amount of explosives used determines the have been released by the courts due to lack Act and the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources damage to the environment. Blast fishing is of evidence. Act. However, both the Department of an illegal form of fishing under the Fisheries In addition to blast fishing, there are Wildlife Conservation and Department of and Aquatic Resources Act. several other fishing methods that are high Fisheries and Aquatic Resources do not have Nonetheless, blast fishing has been detrimental to coral reefs and species. Coral, adequate resources in terms of equipment carried out for a long time in Sri Lanka. gorgonians, sponges and many other species and manpower to police and manage large Half a century ago, blast fishing was carried are damaged or destroyed when fishing nets marine areas. It is extremely important out using an ‘oru’, which is a small dugout become entangled on reefs. Often nets are for the government to allocate adequate canoe. This activity was practiced in remote abandoned when they entangle on reefs and funding to manage these conservation areas, locations as the blast near the sea surface these discarded nets continue to trap fish and to safeguard living resources in the coastal attracts the attention of those on land. other species. waters of Sri Lanka.

Over-exploitation of marine resources - discarded shells

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