Stop the Destruction of our Coral Reefs and Historical Shipwrecks

On the 28th of June 2016, The President of Sri Lanka, in a media conference, pledged to  "deploy security forces of Sri Lanka to protect the environment because the future survival of human beings is based on a vibrant environment"

Picture : Fish life before on the wreck

More or less at the same time this statement was made fisherman from Lanka Patuna, north east of Sri Lanka, were engaged in "Dynamite Fishing", a strictly illegal form of fishing over the historical World War II wreck of the SS British Sergeant located in the tourist area of Passikudah. Three boats, anchored above the wreck, dropped dynamite on the wreck, damaging the hull of the wreck and also obliterating the beautiful corals on the hull that made the ship a safe haven for shoals of fish. Thousands of fish were killed too. A few hours later, local dive centers  with a boat load of foreign tourists, who visit Sri Lanka just to dive this wreck, were shocked to discover the carnage around it. A beautiful artificial coral reef had bore the brunt of dynamite fishing.

 

Picture :Damage from Dynamite fishing on the wreck​ 

 Picture : Fish dead after dynamite fishing​

 Picture : Fish dead after dynamite fishing

This is nothing new.  From the beginning of 2015,  "blast fishing" or "dynamite fishing" has been on the increase all over the country.   From Mannar to Passikudah, including Mullativu, Trincoamlee, Vakarai,  Hambantota to Hikkaduwa, the reefs and wrecks are being bombed by a mafia of fisherman who are not only destroying our natural and cultural heritage, but also depriving fishermen engaged in sustainable fishing practices their livelihood.  In Trincomalee and Passikudah these illegal fishermen are said to origin from Irrakkandy, Kinya and Oddamavudi, while in Mulativu, they come from the far south and blast the reefs of Mulativu, allegedly under the protection of corrupt officials.  The local fishermen in Mulativu are said to be badly affected, but raising the issue with the government had yielded no results.

Picture : Dynamite fish Collector in action

The dynamite fisherman not only pay off fishermen who tip them off to the location of shoals  of fish, but also allegedly bribe government and law enforcement officials at lower levels to look the other way or even to protect their presence. There is big money in dynamite fishing and plenty to go around. It is a fast big catch, a big cash in at the expense of a destroyed environment.

 

Why is dynamite fishing illegal?  Because it is unsustainable. It is equivalent to throwing a bomb into a forest to catch a herd of deer. Not only do the deer die, but also all the fauna and flora around. Imagine doing this day and day out - nothing will be left.  Dynamite fishermen are like locusts - they bomb one reef or wreck until there is nothing left and then move on to the next spot. Sometimes they will travel far away to a different village and bomb the reefs and wrecks there. Like locusts they lay waste to vast areas of nature.

Picture : Dead fish after the explosions 

Dynamite fishing has a huge economic impact to our country. It affects our fisheries and marine tourism industries. 

That's why this has to be stopped.

Picture : Victim of Dynamite fishing
The intention of this petition is to prove that the law abiding citizens of Sri Lanka are against dynamite fishing and would like to hold the President to keep his word and instruct the police and navy to crack down on these illegal fishermen.

One of the biggest mysteries is where these fishermen get explosives. Availability of explosives in the hands of a wrong person is also a threat to the national security of Sri Lanka.

 

Please sign the petition and also share it with your friends and family and urge them to sign.

 

Your help, commitment and voice is needed for us to lobby the government into action.

 

Thank you.

 

The Sri Lanka Sub Aqua Club

www.srilankasubaquaclub.org