Dynamite fishing, also known as blast fishing or fish bombing, uses explosives to kill or stun schools of fish for easy collection. This method is globally recognized as an illegal form of fishing due to its indiscriminate nature and catastrophic effects on marine ecosystems. It is considered one of the most environmentally harmful fishing techniques, causing widespread and long-lasting damage to foundational ocean habitats. The practice provides a quick, high-yield harvest but at an unsustainable cost to the environment.
The Mechanics of Blast Fishing
The effectiveness of blast fishing relies on the unique physics of an underwater explosion, which generates an immediate, powerful shockwave. Because water is nearly incompressible, the rapid expansion of the explosive charge creates a sharp pressure wave that travels quickly. This pressure wave is the primary mechanism that kills the fish, not shrapnel or physical force.
Fish near the explosion die because the shockwave violently ruptures their gas-filled swim bladders and internal organs. This internal trauma causes some fish to float to the surface, where they can be scooped up. Explosives are often improvised using materials like ammonium nitrate fertilizer and kerosene, or by illegally harvesting military ordnance. The method is wasteful; for every ten fish killed by the blast, only one or two float to the surface, with the rest sinking to the seafloor.
Ecological Destruction of Marine Habitats
The most devastating consequence of blast fishing is the physical destruction of the marine habitat, particularly the fragile architecture of coral reefs. The force of the explosion shatters the calcium carbonate skeletons of the coral, often reducing large areas of biodiverse reef into rubble fields. A single blast can leave a visible crater and prevent natural recovery for up to a decade.
Repeated blasting transforms these complex ecosystems into continuous, unstable beds of small fragments. This indiscriminate destruction impacts the entire food web, killing not only target fish species but also non-target organisms like juveniles, eggs, and plankton. The loss of foundational species and the physical structure of the reef destabilizes the entire ecosystem. The long-term loss of the reef structure also removes the natural coastal protection it provides, leaving shorelines more vulnerable to storms and erosion.
Socio-Economic Drivers and Human Risks
The primary driver for blast fishing is the promise of a large, immediate catch with minimal effort and cost compared to conventional methods. In areas of high poverty, the short-term financial returns can be substantial, often offering incomes comparable to the highest earnings in non-destructive coastal fisheries. This high efficiency, combined with the ease of obtaining or manufacturing explosives, makes it an appealing option for fishers lacking proper equipment.
The practice carries significant dangers for the people involved. Accidental detonation is common, leading to severe injuries such as loss of limbs, permanent hearing damage from the shockwave, and fatalities among the fishermen. Furthermore, the long-term decline in fish stocks and the destruction of the reef habitat ultimately threaten the food security and livelihoods of the wider coastal community, turning a short-term gain into a long-term economic loss.
Global Legal Status and Enforcement Challenges
Dynamite fishing is prohibited under national fisheries regulations and environmental protection laws in nearly every country where the practice occurs. A significant challenge to eradication is the difficulty of enforcement, particularly in remote archipelagic regions and developing nations that lack sufficient maritime patrol resources.
The underwater nature of the blasts makes them difficult to detect and locate from the surface, allowing perpetrators to quickly discard evidence. Solutions include the deployment of advanced acoustic detection technology that can accurately pinpoint the location of the blasts in real-time. Effective enforcement also relies on community-based monitoring programs and supporting alternative, sustainable livelihoods for coastal fishers.