THE lack of enforcement in the waters off Sabah has paved way for the rampant use of fish bombs for illegal fishing, said fishermen’s groups following the recent death of two tourists on a scuba dive.

Two fishermen’s groups said the Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCom) which is responsible for security in the coast has to beef up operations in the area which has become a hub for illegal fishing in the last 20 years.

They also said the use of fish bombs is popular as the yield is “seven times” higher than conventional methods of fishing in their daily outing to the sea.

Fish bombs involve the use of explosives, usually home-made, mixed in a bottle and when the charge explodes, it causes shock waves which kill or stun fish, which float to the surface. The fishermen then just scoop the fish using nets.

Semporna Fishermen Association president Salleh Abd Salleh said those fishing illegally at the coast are mostly illegal immigrants employed by locals.

“These are the people who have been fishing with fish bombs, as far as we know.

“Local fishermen don’t dare do this as they fear the long arm of the law,” Salleh told The Malaysian Insight.

But he noted Semporna’s law enforcement units are not adequately staffed and this only emboldens those who wanted to use this fishing technique.

Salleh suggested that in addition to setting up surveillance posts on as many islands as possible, authorities should increase the number of marine patrols to go after illegal fishermen.

Sandakan Fishermen Association Saiful Bahari said the use of fish bombs is an ongoing problem and the authorities appear to lack the will to end it.

“The problem has been around for a long time but the law enforcement agencies lack efficiency and supervision. Although we have repeatedly reported the problem, we still see Filipino fishermen using them here.”

He said the foreign fishermen are not bothered about the impact of their action, to the extent that there is no stopping them even if someone is injured or “blown up”.

“They just don’t care. They are not afraid,” he said

Dirt cheap fish bombs

According to Salleh, it costs only RM10 to make fish bombs from fertilisers which are easily found in the state.

“The main raw material used to make fish bombs is fertiliser. In the wet market, you will see people selling fertilisers purportedly for plants. This is very suspicious.”

Fertilisers used in agriculture have a high nitrogen content. It is mainly composed of ammonium nitrate, a crystalline salt compound used to make explosives.

The use of fish bomb also helps keep prices lower as the catch gets bigger.

“Fishing with fish bombs is faster. The haul is usually seven times more than fishing using the conventional method. And the price is at about 70% cheaper, sometimes you can buy a fish for below RM1,” said Salleh.

Although the quality of the catch is not as good as those caught with other methods, the cheap prices are still a draw for buyers.

Saiful said while fish caught using fish bombs are cheaper, it could be dangerous to consume such fish as the chemicals used to make the fish bombs would have seeped into the fish.

“Because there are chemicals left in the flesh. Basically, people here don’t dare buy it. The fish caught using fish bombs seem to have no wounds on the surface. But when I cut it, the bones inside are broken and the internal organs are usually smashed.”

Taking the spinefoot fish as an example, he said it costs only RM2 to RM3 a kg if caught using fish bombs while the market price is closer to RM10.

Sabah Chief Minister Mohd Shafie Apdal has warned the culprits of the fish-bombing incident which killed three divers on Friday that the heaviest possible penalty will be handed down.

Shafie said he had repeatedly raised the issue in the state legislative assembly and is now calling for stern punishment.

“This problem has existed for a very, very long time.

“It is also my hope that locals who know those responsible to come forward so the authorities can arrest the culprits.” – July 12, 2019.