Cyanide fishing is a destructive method used to capture live fish, primarily for the ornamental aquarium trade and high-end restaurants. This practice involves spraying a toxic sodium cyanide solution into marine habitats, particularly coral reefs, to stun fish for easier collection. Its widespread use has severe implications for marine ecosystems and human health.
How Cyanide Fishing Works
Fishers mix sodium cyanide tablets with water in a bottle, creating a toxic solution. Divers then squirt this mixture directly onto coral reefs or into crevices where fish hide. The chemical stuns the fish, making them easier to scoop up by hand or with a net.
The primary targets are colorful reef fish for the aquarium trade, such as green chromis and blue tangs, or larger species like groupers, wrasses, and coral trout for live food markets. Fishers operate without proper breathing apparatus, sometimes using homemade systems like garden hoses fed by air compressors. Handling cyanide poses direct health risks to fishers during preparation and application.
Environmental and Health Consequences
The environmental impacts of cyanide fishing are significant, particularly on coral reefs. Cyanide directly kills coral polyps and algae, leading to coral bleaching and the eventual death of reef structures. An estimated one square meter of coral is destroyed for every live fish caught using this method. This destruction turns coral reefs into marine deserts, disrupting the balance of marine ecosystems.
The loss of coral reefs reduces biodiversity and impacts the livelihoods of coastal communities that depend on healthy oceans for food and tourism. Beyond corals, cyanide is indiscriminate, killing non-target fish and other marine invertebrates that cannot escape the toxic plume. The chemical blocks photosynthesis in zooxanthellae, the symbiotic algae living within corals, depriving them of their main food source and causing widespread mortality.
Human health risks include direct cyanide poisoning for fishers. Consumers of fish caught with cyanide also face risks, as surviving fish can retain harmful toxin levels. Many fish caught with cyanide die before reaching market and are sold, exposing local communities to residual cyanide when consumed.
Global Reach and Illegality
Cyanide fishing is most prevalent in saltwater fishing regions of Southeast Asia, including the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, the Maldives, and Taiwan. The practice is driven by high demand for live reef fish in high-end restaurants in affluent areas like Hong Kong, Singapore, and mainland China, as well as the global ornamental fish trade. High prices for live fish create an economic incentive for fishers in remote areas with limited alternative income sources.
Despite its economic allure, cyanide fishing is illegal under national and international laws in many countries where it is practiced. For instance, the practice violates national fisheries acts designed to protect marine resources. International conventions, such as CITES, can also apply. However, enforcing these laws remains challenging due to the vastness of ocean areas and the clandestine nature of the operations.
Efforts to Counteract Cyanide Fishing
Combating cyanide fishing involves a multi-faceted approach, starting with stricter governmental regulations and enhanced enforcement. Authorities in affected regions are working to prosecute offenders and intercept illegal cyanide shipments.
Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) play an important role in conservation efforts, raising awareness and supporting sustainable alternatives. Community-based management programs empower local communities to protect their marine resources and promote responsible fishing practices. Consumer education campaigns aim to reduce demand for illegally caught fish by informing buyers about environmental and health consequences. Efforts are underway to rehabilitate damaged coral reefs and promote aquaculture as a sustainable alternative to wild-caught fish.