Blast fishing: Desecrating coral reefs for a bigger catch

Though illegal, the practice continues to run rampant in Indonesian waters.

By Cahaya Ratomo

Life in the sea: Unaware of what was to come, these schooling fish stuck together until the very end.

(JP/Cahaya Ratomo)(JP/Cahaya Ratomo)

The waters of Sumbawa, West Nusa Tenggara, appear pristine and unharmed, home to creatures and landforms that testify to Indonesia’s rich marine life. However, beneath the surface lies a truth that often goes untold: when the maritime police are far from sight, designated fishers row out to sea and bomb coral reefs.

Kaharudin, a shrimp farmer living in Bima, Sumbawa, explains that these bombs are used for an illegal practice known as blast fishing. When detonated, coral reefs are “completely wiped out”, transforming spirited utopias into wastelands of rubble and carcasses.

Michael Sjukrie is the founder of Odydive and an award-winning course director at PADI, the world’s leading scuba-diver-training organization. These coral reefs, he explains, are the habitats of most fish species targeted by blast fishers. Once destroyed, a plethora of fish are killed, while the remaining survivors escape and relocate to various locations, leaving the bombed areas with “absolutely no fish” left.

“Apart from the dead,” the 51-year-old adds.

As a result, villagers who once relied on these regions for food are forced to travel to and fish in other territories -- typically located farther away from shore -- to simply conjure a meal.

Kaharudin, along with the other residents of his village, Poja, are victims of such.

“When I was a child, we used to catch fish near the seafront,” he explained. “Now, because blast fishing has gotten out of hand, we must travel very far for a catch.”

Destroyed: The vibrant coral reefs surrounding Taupan Island in Togian Islands, Central Sulawesi, are obliterated by blast fishers.

(Michael Sjukrie) (Courtesy of Michael Sjukrie/Courtesy of Michael Sjukrie)

A fishy dilemma

For most blast fishers, the hope for simpler work is the motive behind their practice. After all, if they could catch the same amount of fish in one hour as they usually would in three weeks, the transition from traditional to radical methods seems like an easy choice.

However, Kaharudin claims that it is much less profitable in practice, given that a blast would typically conjure tiny, unwanted fish instead of the larger ones retrieved for food or sale. With no way to predict the availability of these desired fish -- and thus the success of a blast -- he paints blast fishing as an extremely inconsistent practice in a profession already built on reliance.

Still, these matters are not of great concern for the fishers, who can simply travel to and bomb other areas if their original blast proves unsuccessful. For them, the real worry lies in the safety risk that comes with the use of bombs.

For the past two years, one Bima resident, who wished to remain anonymous, has held a key position in a field that presents valuable insights and perspectives on blast fishing. To create and deploy the bombs, they explain, a mixture of fertilizer and chemicals would be placed into a bottle or container, then ignited using a flame.

If the fishers do not act quickly after ignition, the bombs can detonate while still in their hands, possibly leading to severe injury or even death. In the Bima region alone, they say there have been up to four accidents in the past two years.

Grave systemic problems

However, the insider further claims that it is improbable for such accidents to be publicized. Knowing that blast fishing is illegal, the villages to whom the fishers belong would reportedly cover up the crime, handling the situation in secret in order to shield them from punishment.

Furthermore, in the event that the fishers are caught executing a blast by the maritime police, Kaharudin claims that there would be insufficient evidence to qualify for their arrest due to reported evidence tampering.

“As soon as [the fishers] see [the maritime police], they immediately throw the bombs into the ocean to get rid of the evidence,” he claims.

However, if an arrest does occur, the insider claims that corruption and bribery would enable the fishers to receive only a minimal jail sentence, such as merely being punished for possession of explosives.

“[They would] stay in jail for three to six months, come back out, [then blast fish] again,” the insider laments.

Tick tock: After desecrating a cherished dive site in Bima, Sumbawa, West Nusa Tenggara, blast fishers abandoned this homemade bomb amidst a flurry of shattered coral.

(JP/Cahaya Ratomo) (JP/Cahaya Ratomo)

A plea for reform

In order to achieve meaningful change, stricter government enforcement -- on top of already established laws and regulations -- must be put into place. Increasing the numbers and breadth of the marine patrol would be especially valuable, as it has been proven to tighten security and effectively scare blast fishers from revealing their bombs in the first place.

Furthermore, breaking the generational cycle of blast fishing and learning from past experiences such as Kaharudin’s, who was forced to assemble bombs at only a young age, is key to preventing the practice from consuming and endangering the next generation.

“[In a village near my residence, the children] are slowly understanding that [blast fishing] is dangerous for the environment and themselves,” the insider says. “[As a result], ​​they are slowly leaving [the practice] behind.”

As far as the damage to the environment is concerned, Sjukrie provides a message of hope, explaining that artificial reefs and Biorock technology have proven to promote the regeneration of damaged coral reefs.

Additionally, he offers a piece of advice for scuba divers in Indonesia.

“[When you dive], the operators will take care of the coral reefs better,” he says. “So, keep diving.”