Traders feign innocence on 'fish bomb'
Joe FernandezPublished: Jun 3, 2009 9:30 AM | Updated: Jun 3, 2009 9:46 AM
The Fisheries Department (FD) has detected 55 recent cases of bombs used for fishing in Tawau waters, which frequently turned out to be aided by ignorance of fish traders when caught red-handed.
Such acts had forced the authorities to embark on an information and education drive to weed out the rampant practice of fish bombing, an illegal trade known to be in cahoot with fish bombers, generally illegal immigrants.
The Fisheries Department (FD) has detected 55 recent cases of bombs used for fishing in Tawau waters, which frequently turned out to be aided by ignorance of fish traders when caught red-handed.
Fish bombing presents a major problem for enforcement authorities as it mostly take place undetected. Random patrols are ineffective and too expensive due to the large sea areas that require patrolling.
"Generally, fishmongers claim that they are unable to tell the difference between fish caught legally and those caught by explosives," said Azhar Kassim, FD bombed fish expert.
According to the FD, the practice of fish bombing in Sabah waters was introduced by the illegal immigrants with help from their countrymen in the neighbouring islands in the Philippines.
Such acts had forced the authorities to embark on an information and education drive to weed out the rampant practice of fish bombing, an illegal trade known to be in cahoot with fish bombers, generally illegal immigrants.
Threat to coral reefs
As a result, fish bombing has become rampant in shallow waters and coral reef areas which are generally teemed with marine life. The explosives were easily made from ammonium nitrate, beer bottles, fuses dipped in wax and detonator.
These explosives would normally be thrown into the water at least five metres from fishing boats. Although the explosives would normally go off in seven seconds, the crudely-made bombs have been known to go off prematurely, causing injuries to the hands of the fishermen.
"The bombs will either stun or kill the fish and this makes it easier for the fishermen to collect them," said Azhar. FD had drawn up a list of dos and don'ts for the fish trade on fish bombing and how to identify marine life caught illegally.
Breaks in the fish backbones, burst kidneys and injuries to the air vacuole are signs indicating explosives were used on the fish.
The intensity of the shock in the water would destroy everything within a one- to two-metre radius. Fish and coral reefs within a 10- to 20-metre radius from the explosion site would be destroyed too.
It was estimated that for every bomb used, fishermen generally net up to 45 kilograms of fish, to be sold at the wet markets, local fair, and household. Of the bombed fish sold locally, it remained a mystery on how much of these were caught from the Philippines waters.
Seafood species face extinction
Besides Tawau, such rampant practice had crept up in the eastern seaboard areas such as Kunak, Lahad Datu, and Semporna.
"Everyone should be aware of the dangers posed by fish bombing activities. Using explosives to catch fish," Azhar said, "is not only endangering the marine life but also destroys the eco-system and seabed, thus depriving the future generations of fish from the sea.
"Public co-operation is the only way we can reduce the incidence of fish bombing in local waters," he added.
The FD warns that as a result of fish bombing activities, 16 species of fish in local waters are on the danger list. They include Anjang-Anjang, ikan sulit, ikan putih, ikan belais, and ikan merah.
Destructive fishing is not the only activity casting a gloom over the livelihood of 15,000 fishermen in Sabah. Over-fishing, trawling and excessive harvest of prey fish for the aqua-culture industry and habitat degradation have also been identified as other culprits to the fish trade, according to Borneo Marine Research Institute.
"We must change the way we manage the ocean and all the species and treat the marine environment as a functioning eco-system," said BMRI Director Prof Dr Saleem Mustafa, an expert in this field.
"Otherwise, there is little hope that the supply of many of the seafood species will last beyond a few decades."
Fish bombing presents a major problem for enforcement authorities as it mostly take place undetected. Random patrols are ineffective and too expensive due to the large sea areas that require patrolling."Generally, fishmongers claim that they are unable to tell the difference between fish caught legally and those caught by explosives," said Azhar Kassim, FD bombed fish expert.
According to the FD, the practice of fish bombing in Sabah waters was introduced by the illegal immigrants with help from their countrymen in the neighbouring islands in the Philippines.
Such acts had forced the authorities to embark on an information and education drive to weed out the rampant practice of fish bombing, an illegal trade known to be in cahoot with fish bombers, generally illegal immigrants.
Threat to coral reefs
As a result, fish bombing has become rampant in shallow waters and coral reef areas which are generally teemed with marine life. The explosives were easily made from ammonium nitrate, beer bottles, fuses dipped in wax and detonator.
These explosives would normally be thrown into the water at least five metres from fishing boats. Although the explosives would normally go off in seven seconds, the crudely-made bombs have been known to go off prematurely, causing injuries to the hands of the fishermen.
"The bombs will either stun or kill the fish and this makes it easier for the fishermen to collect them," said Azhar. FD had drawn up a list of dos and don'ts for the fish trade on fish bombing and how to identify marine life caught illegally.
Breaks in the fish backbones, burst kidneys and injuries to the air vacuole are signs indicating explosives were used on the fish. The intensity of the shock in the water would destroy everything within a one- to two-metre radius. Fish and coral reefs within a 10- to 20-metre radius from the explosion site would be destroyed too.
It was estimated that for every bomb used, fishermen generally net up to 45 kilograms of fish, to be sold at the wet markets, local fair, and household. Of the bombed fish sold locally, it remained a mystery on how much of these were caught from the Philippines waters.
Seafood species face extinction
Besides Tawau, such rampant practice had crept up in the eastern seaboard areas such as Kunak, Lahad Datu, and Semporna.
"Everyone should be aware of the dangers posed by fish bombing activities. Using explosives to catch fish," Azhar said, "is not only endangering the marine life but also destroys the eco-system and seabed, thus depriving the future generations of fish from the sea.
"Public co-operation is the only way we can reduce the incidence of fish bombing in local waters," he added. The FD warns that as a result of fish bombing activities, 16 species of fish in local waters are on the danger list. They include Anjang-Anjang, ikan sulit, ikan putih, ikan belais, and ikan merah.
Destructive fishing is not the only activity casting a gloom over the livelihood of 15,000 fishermen in Sabah. Over-fishing, trawling and excessive harvest of prey fish for the aqua-culture industry and habitat degradation have also been identified as other culprits to the fish trade, according to Borneo Marine Research Institute.
"We must change the way we manage the ocean and all the species and treat the marine environment as a functioning eco-system," said BMRI Director Prof Dr Saleem Mustafa, an expert in this field.
"Otherwise, there is little hope that the supply of many of the seafood species will last beyond a few decades."
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