Skip to main content

DYNAMITE FISHINGi: THREAT TO SUSTAINABLE BUE ECONOMY

By

 

                                                   


 


By  HAJI MOHAMED .PEMBA-ZANZIBAR -TANZANIA

Fishing is a legal money earning activity for many people around the world that sustains livelihood. It is practiced in the seas, oceans, lakes, ponds and rivers.

However, human beings who are not satisfied with what they catch a day, have come up with what we call illegal fishing which is very destructive.

There are many activities of illegal fishing in the world. Some of them are using cyanide, fishnets with small eyes and one of the most destructive is dynamite fishing or blast fishing. It is also known as bomb fishing.

As Zanzibar is implementing a blue economy policy, the government needs to be alerted on dynamite fishing due to its destruction to the marine ecosystem as our country expects rapid development in the fishing industry.

This article intends to show how blast fishing is dangerous for the sustainable fishing industry by taking an example of the Philippines where illegal fishing including cyanide is practised.

Blast fishing is the practice of using explosives to stun or kill schools of fish for easy collection. It is an illegal practice that is extremely destructive to the surrounding ecosystem, as the explosion destroys the underlying habitat such as coral reefs that support the fish.

We should know that dynamite fishing creates a wave of destruction. It is not only threatening coral reefs but also leads to the decline in fish populations. It also affects coastal communities and small fisheries trying to compete with industrial trawlers.

Besides, dynamite fishing harms the tourist industry, which is the strong emerging source of our income in Zanzibar.

While the world enhances in protecting the environment, dynamite fishing has been mentioned as one of the most destructive forms of fishing because it indiscriminately kills anything in the blast area- from fish eggs and plankton to whales and dolphins and devastates corals.

Besides killing and injuring fish and marine animals, these blasts leave behind rubble and broken corals on the seafloor, destroying habitat for all reef species.

In the Philippines for instance, illegal fishing including the use of cyanide and blast fishing made the country unfertile in the fishing industry as all corals and seabed have been destroyed.

The use of cyanide to stun and capture live coral reef fish began in the 1960s to supply the growing market for aquarium fish in Europe and North America.

Since the late 1970s, the poison has also been used to capture larger live reef fish for sale to specialty restaurants in Hong Kong and other cities with large   Chinese populations.



That business was payable as some species can fetch up to US$300 per plate.

It is believed that high paid for live reef fish, weak enforcement capacities and frequent corruption have spread the use of the poison across the Philippines and the entire region of southeast Asia.

The Philippines has also destroyed its marine environment by fishermen using blast fishing, and now they get low catches due to the destruction of corals. Divers and marine researchers are witnesses.

There are only rubbles in the sea bed, no live coral reef as well as juvenile fish’s hides.

This lesson from the Philippines should caution Tanzania and Zanzibar on the whole in using blast fishing, as many reports reveal that Tanzania is still practicing such fishing.

According to reports from Tanzania, the most affected areas on dynamite fishing are the entire coastline from Mtwara to Tanga and off of nearby islands. However, the coastline of Dar es Salaam has been mentioned as more affected.

Reports also reveal that the practice began in the 1960s and by the mid-1990s had become a serious problem. However, measures have been taken to combat this situation as Tanzania now implementing the law of Deep Fishing with Exclusive Fishing Zone(EFZ).

Some fishermen interviewed in the report said that people are engaged in blast fishing because it is the easiest way for them to earn money.



Others said making a bomb is cheaper and vastly more productive than sticking with traditional fishing methods such as basket traps (Dema) and hook and fishing line.

They said dynamites are also easier to find nowadays. A boom in mining and construction in Tanzania has made it less challenging for people to get their hands on explosives.

As for Zanzibar, dynamite fishing has not existed. It is difficult for Zanzibar fishers to obtain explosives that are used in blast fishing.

However, some people say that fish caught by illegal fishing or dynamite fishing are auctioned in the fish markets but not from Zanzibar fishers.

Said Mrefu (52) from Magomeni, who is a fish auctioneer told the Zanzibar Mail in some days some fish were caught by dynamite fishing.

“Fishers from the Mainland use explosives. After being chased by the naval army they now approach Zanzibar. Zanzibar fishers have no ways of obtaining explosives,” he said.

He said he is able to differentiate a fish caught by blast and the ordinary gear as dynamite fish were very soft and rot very fast, easy scaling due to scale loss and its eyes are like cooking.

When asked what he has done on the situation, he said he reported the matter to the Department of Environment on the existence of dynamite fishing but the response was not positive.

“They told me to go to Deep Fishing Authority at Fumba to report the issue. They didn’t support me and until today I have decided to remain silent,” he said.

He said blast fishing is a threat to the blue economy adding that

all the people should be watchdogs to curb the illegal practice in order to be successful.

Our neighbors Kenya and Mozambique had similar problem of dynamite fishing but they have now managed to stamp it out.

What should be done?

To overcome the problem, the implementation and enforcement of laws that ban the practice should be worked out properly, and all rooms of corruption and bribery have to be sealed.

Another way to stop dynamite fishing is to make sure dynamites are not easily available.

Some people say that the law against dynamite fishing needs to be reviewed to impose harsh punishment on the culprits to stop the widespread destruction.

For instance, under the 2003 Fisheries Act, the minimum sentence against dynamite fishing is 5 years for dynamite fishing and 12 months for possessing explosives.

To put an end to blast fishing, the top-level political will should exist within the country and greater pressure for change need to be applied locally along with the international community as a whole.

We should remember that, beside environmental impact, dynamite fishing threatens the livelihood of legitimate fishermen, as well as the economy as a whole.

To minimize blast fishing, great efforts should be put on intensive patrol and enforcement of laws.

The blue economy will only be successful if our seas are clean from the illegal dynamite fishing.  (sources: Zanzibar mail)

THE END

Comments

Post a Comment

BLOG'S VISITORS

DAKTARI MWENGINE CHAKE CHAKE KULA SIKUKUU POLISI, NI KWA TUHUMA ZA KUMBAKA MGONJWA WAKE

By
NA WAANDISHI WETU, PEMBA::: DAKTARI anaetoa huduma kwa wagonjwa kituo cha afya cha serikali cha  Gombani wilaya ya Chake Chake Pemba, Is-haka Rashid Hadid, anaendelea kushikiliwa na Jeshi la Polisi Mkoa wa kaskazini Pemba, akituhumiwa kumtorosha na kisha kumbaka mtoto wa mwenye umri wa miaka 16, mkaazi wa Gombani. Daktari huyo miaka 35 ni mkaazi wa Kangagani Wilaya ya Wete mkoani humo, ambapo anadaiwa alimchukua mtoto huyo kutoka kwa rafiki yake, na kumpeleka kwenye nyumba anayoishi eneo la Kangagani. Mtoto aliefanyiwa kitendo hicho alisema kuwa, April 21 mwaka huu alikwenda kituo cha afya Gombani, kwa ajili ya matibabu na baada ya kupatiwa huduma na daktari huyo, alimuomba nambari yake ya simu. Alisema ilipofika usiku, walikuwa wanawasiliana kupitia ujumbe mfupi (sms) kwa lengo la kwenda kuchukua dawa nyingine ambazo kwa mchana huo alizikosa hospitalini hapo. "Nilikwenda hospitali kutibiwa, baada ya kufanya mapele katika sehemu zangu za siri, lakini akaniambia mpaka aje da
2 comments
Read more

'MKAPA' NA WENZAKE PEMBA WALAZWA RUMANDE

By
  NA HAJI NASSOR, PEMBA@@@@ MAHKAMA kuu Zanzibar kisiwani Pemba, chini ya Jaji Ibrahim Mzee Ibrahim, imewapeleka rumande watumuhimwa wanne wanaokabiliwa na tuhuma za kuua kwa makusudi, akiwemo Ali Mussa Omar ‘ Mkapa’ mkaazi wa Wawi wilaya ya Chake chake Pemba. Watuhumiwa wengine walioanza maisha mapya ya rumande ni mtuhumiwa Yassir Mohamed Juma miaka 23, Anuwari Mussa Omar miaka 30 pamoja na mtuhumiwa Yassir Mussa Omar ‘ Makababu ’ miaka 29, wote wakaazi wa shehia ya Wawi, wilaya ya Chake chake Pemba. Awali watuhumiwa hao waliwasili mahakamani hapo, kwa mara ya kwanza, kwa ajili ya kusomewa tuhma zinazowakabili za kumuua kwa maksudi Said Seif Kombo. Ilidaiwa mahakamani hapo na Mwendesha Mashtaka kutoka Ofisi ya Mkurugenzi wa Mashataka Seif Mohamed Khamis akiambatana na mwenzake Mussa Khamis Ali kuwa, watuhumiwa hao kwa pamoja wanadaia kufanya mauwaji hayo kwa maksudi. Ilidai kuwa, watuhumiwa wote kwa pamoja, walitenda kosa hilo Oktoba 16, mwaka huu, baina ya saa 7:00 mchan
Post a Comment
Read more

HII KALI MBUNGE ASIYA AMKOGESHA MWANANCHI HADHARANI KISA HICHI HAPA......

By
  NA HAJI NASSOR, PEMBA MBUNGE wa viti maalum nafasi za wanawake mkoa wa kaskazini Pemba Asiya Sharif Omar, amewataka wananchi wa kijiji cha taifu, shehia ya Kinyasini jimbo la Gando wilaya ya Wete Pemba, kuyalinda miundombinu ya maji safi na salama, ili yawe endelevu kwao. Kauli hiyo ameitoa wakati alipokuwa akizungumza na mwandishi wa habari hizi, mara baada ya kuwasili kijijini humo, na kumkogesha mwananchi mmoja kama ishara ya uzinduzi wa mradi wa maji safi na salama, ulioasisiwa na mbunge wa Jimbo la Gando. Alisema, hawana mbadala kwa sasa bali ni kuilinda miundombinu ya huduma hiyo, hasa baada ya mbunge wa wao Salim Mussa Omar, kuwarejeshea huduma hiyo. Alieleza kuwa, inafahamika kuwa kwa miaka 14 waliikosa huduma hiyo hasa kwa vile viongozi waliokuwepo hawakujali kuwatatulia tatizo hilo, hadi juzi ilipofanywa na mbunge wao. “Baada ya huduma hii sasa kurejeshwa na mbunge wa jimbo la Gando, kazi iliyobakia kwenu wananchi ni kila mmoja kuwa mlinzi wa miundombinu hii,’’ali
Post a Comment
Read more

TUHMA ZA DAKTARI PEMBA KUCHIWA HURU: POLISI KASKAZINI KUTOA TAARIFA RASMI LEO

By
  NA HAJI NASSOR, PEMBA KAMANDA wa Polisi mkoa wa kaskazini Pemba, Juma Saad Khamis, amesema leo Mei 9, mwaka huu atatoa taarifa rasmi, juu ya kuendelea kumshikilia au kumpa dhamana ya Polisi, daktari wa Kituo cha Afya Gombani Is-haka Rashid Hadid, anayetuhumiwa kwa ubakaji. Alisema, kwa vile alikuwa katika mapumziko mafupi, haelewi jambo lolote linaloendelea kwa mtuhumiwa huyo, juu ya kuendelea kushikiliwa kwake kituoni hapo. Alieleza kuwa, leo Mei 6 (jana), hajapata taarifa za ndani za mtuhumiwa, huyo na kuwataka wananchi na wanaharakati, wasubirie hadi Jumatatu ijayo. Akizungumza na waandishi wa habari kwa nyakati tofauti Kamanda huyo, alisema hana taarifa zozote za kupewa dhamana mtuhumiwa ndani ya kituo chake cha Polisi au kuendelea kuwepo. ‘’Ilikuwa mimi sipo kazini kwa muda, kuanzia anakamatwa hadi anafikishwa Polisi, kwa sasa siwezi kueleza jambo lolote kwa mtuhumiwa huyo, hadi Jumatatu,’’alieleza. Aidha Kamanda huyo alieleza kuwa, kwa sasa hawezi kutoa ufafan
Post a Comment
Read more

MADAKTARI KUTOKA CHINA WAOKOA MAISHA YA MTOTO PEMBA

By
  HABIBA ZARALI, PEMBA TIMU ya 32 ya madaktari wa kichina katika hospitali ya Abdalla Mzee Mkoani wamefanikiwa kufanya upasuaji mkubwa wa mtoto mwenye umri wa miaka 15 mkaazi wa Chole Kengeja, baada ya kuchomwa na jiti sehemu ya njia zake za mfumo wa uzazi. Mtoto huyo ambae alianguka hivi karibuni katika mti na baadae kuchomwa na jiti hilo na kumsababishia kutokwa na damu nyingi katika sehemu ya nyonga, alifanyiwa upasuaji uliodumu kwa muda wa saa tatu na   kuokolewa maisha yake. Akizungumza mara baada ya operesheni huo kiongozi wa timu hiyo Dr Jiang Jinhua, alisema mara baada ya mtoto huyo kufikishwa hospitalini hapo na kufanyiwa vipimo na kuonekana   ilibidi apatiwe rufaa ya kwenda katika hospitali nzuri yenye kutibu tatizo lake huko nchini Kuwado ambapo haikuwezekana kutokana na hali ya umaskini wa f amilia ya mtoto huyo . Alisema timu ya madaktari hao itaendelea kutowa huduma za matibabu   kwa wananchi kisiwani humo,   ili kuwaondolea gharama ya kutafuta matibabu nje ya nch
Post a Comment
Read more