Fish bombing (also known as ‘dynamite fishing’, or ‘blast fishing’) is a destructive fishing practice in which typically, homemade bombs are dropped into the ocean or onto the seabed. Shock waves produced by the explosion either stun or kill fish, some of which are then collected from the surface while the rest sink to the seabed. Fish bombing not only targets fish but all other surrounding marine life, as well as destroying the coral reef which takes decades to recover devastating the ecosystem and future livelihoods.
Stop Fish Bombing! partners and network are applying solutions to suppress fish bombing before the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal 14 expires in 2020.
In 2015, countries adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals including:
- By 2020, effectively regulate harvesting and end overfishing, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and destructive fishing practices and implement science-based management plans, in order to restore fish stocks in the shortest time feasible, at least to levels that can produce maximum sustainable yield as determined by their biological characteristics
Fish bombing is illegal in many countries around the world, however laws regarding this fishing practice are often not fully implemented, and difficult to enforce in remote areas. The sound from fish bombs is trapped underwater, making it very difficult to detect from the surface. If a fishermen is about to caught they can quickly discard any evidence of fish bombing overboard, and therefore convictions are very rare. The risk of fines or imprisonment is so low that the blast fishermen are able to continue with impunity.
Stop Fish Bombing! has the will, the technology and is building the support to stop this harmful method of fishing.
Take the Pledge to Stop Fish Bombing!
On May 1st and 2nd, 2017 a gathering of scientists, academics, fisheries managers, NGOs and government met in Kuala Lumpur to evaluate beta testing in Malaysian waters and to establish recommendations to apply the technology in the region. The coalition received strong government commitment from the Sabah Malaysian government to join in and stop this destruction. Together we are registering comments and commitments for consideration at the United Nations Oceans Conference in New York June 2017 to address this form of illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing in accord with the UN Sustainable Goals and the International Convention on the High Seas. Shark Stewards and our partners will be participating at the Conference and pushing this agenda forward to eliminate this destructive fishing method.
Please add your voice and help us succeed.