BLAST fishing occurs daily in the waters of Sabah, endangering both fishermen and marine life, said Sabah officials.
The lack of enforcement in the waters has allowed the rampant use of fish bombs for illegal fishing, said fishermen’s groups, following the deaths of two tourists on a scuba dive.
Although outlawed, fishing with bombs is remains a popular practice as the yield is up to seven times that of conventional method.
Explosives, usually homemade, causes shock waves that kill or stun the fish and cause them to float to the surface. The fishermen then easily scoop them up with nets.
Fish bombs keep costs and prices low even as the catch gets bigger – at least in the short term.
The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) together with other relevant agencies will be intensifying operations to combat fish bombing in Sabah waters. – July 14, 2019.
The Kg Pondoh water village in Pulau Gaya is among Sabah's most infamous sites for illegal blast fishing. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Irwan Majid, July 14, 2019.Fishermen fashion explosives to stun or kill the fish from items that are easily procured in the markets. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Irwan Majid, July 14, 2019.Broken coral is the result of blast fishing n Kota Belud, Sabah. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Irwan Majid, July 14, 2019.Fisherman go out to sea early in the morning in Semporna, where blast fishing is rampant. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Irwan Majid, July 14, 2019.Islanders known as sea gypsies build their homes on stilts above the ocean in the fishing village of Musu in Mabul, Semporna. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Irwan Majid, July 14, 2019.Manukan Island in Sabah is a well-known tourist destination. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Irwan Majid, July 14, 2019.Fisherman sell their fresh, illegal catch, from their boats. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Irwan Majid, July 14, 2019.Illegally caught fish are sold in the wet markets in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Irwan Majid, July 14, 2019.Fisherman in Kota Kinabalu use the 'pambot', as the pump boat is known locally, which is preferred for its ability to navigate shallow waters and thus enable the illegal fishermen to evade the authorities. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Irwan Majid, July 14, 2019.Coral fish caught with bombs find ready buyers in the markets in Sabah. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Irwan Majid, July 14, 2019.
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