Lucas Liganga This Day 27 Feb 09;
A STUDY on the impact of dynamite fishing in the Kinondoni Integrated Coastal Area Management Project (KICAMP) localities reveals that the damage caused to reefs by dynamite goes beyond the shattering impact of the explosion itself.
The study jointly done by Chikambi Rumisha, a marine scientist with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism and Dr Christopher Muhando, a marine ecologist and lecturer with the Institute of Marine Sciences (IMS) of the University of Dar es Salaam in Zanzibar, says after a blast, algal growth quickly smothers the coral because the shoals of grazing fish that would normally keep it under control have been decimated.
The study focused on the localities of Mbweni, Ununio and Kunduchi as well as the offshore islands of Mbudya, Fungu Yasin, Bongoyo, Pangavini Marine Reserves and fishing grounds in the vicinity. Specific interest was also given to fringing reefs along Ras Kiromoni at Ununio and Malindi coast, Fungu Mkadya, Mbudya patches, Mwenvua, Dute, Dambwe. Mwamba Mrefu, Taa kubwa and Taa ndogo, and Kitapumbe reefs.
Coral reefs are natural barriers that restrain beach erosion by holding back cruising oceanic waves, but dynamite fishing has negated that function in the area under study, say the two scientists.
The study reveals that the destruction of the coral reef, besides exposing the sea flanks, rising sea levels, it also poses a threat to life and property on the mainland and surrounding islands.
The rising beach erosion processes in the KICAMP area are associated with dynamite fishing. Dynamited reefs can no longer act as water barriers, exemplified in the submerging of Bahari Beach Hotel and the nearby fishing village of Kunduchi Pwani, says the study, adding that beach erosion has also impacted the beautiful pristine beach off Jangwani, White Sands and Kunduchi, which were once the hallmark of Dar es Salaam north tourist resorts.
Dynamite fishing also disturbs the breeding, nursery and feeding grounds of many marine organisms. These become degraded and rendered unsuitable.
"In the changed environment this will usually lead to the abundance of trash, low economic value species and explosion of predators and competing organisms," says the study.
THISDAY has learned that coastal zone managers, scientists, and most people in Tanzania are unhappy that dynamite fishing is still practised.
"The issue of dynamite fishing has been discussed in many platforms and many resolutions have been proposed. Enforcement is the main problem," says a marine scientist who prefers to remain anonymous for security reasons.
He says the most recent national fisheries meeting was on December 7, 2007 in Bagamoyo, Coast Region and was attended by representatives of fishers, fisheries officers, police, judiciary, navy and coastal district administrative officers.
The meeting passed a resolution to adopt a zero tolerance policy against dynamite fishing and the formation of a Dynamite Fishing Task Force was proposed.
Understandably, a fisheries officer who also prefers to hide his identity, says the Fisheries Division has already nominated the task force members; however, up to now, the task force is not functional because of lack of funds.
Or if funding is available in abundance, as was the case when the Tanga Coastal Zone Conservation and Development Program was still active, this is apparently diverted to other uses, says the officer.
Industry sources say there are several concepts or explanations leading to failures in enforcing some of the fisheries regulations, including dynamite fishing.
The sources say education and awareness on the impact of dynamite fishing was assumed to be sufficient to change behaviour but this has not happened.
There is also lack of demonstrated intrinsic value of coral reefs � the police, prosecutors and judges, and many politicians are not convinced that dynamite fishing is a big issue, according to the sources.
"The real value of coral reefs is very much underestimated or not considered by many players (especially lawyers). Fear or reluctance to report dynamiters to the responsible authorities has been enhanced by the fact that people don’t know how much loss is actually caused," say the industry sources.
The sources suggest that another effective demonstrative approach to education and awareness is needed, adding : "Where corals are regarded as mere rocks and stones and where killing fish by illegal means is not seen as an offence, law enforcement can be a headache."
They say poverty and ignorance play a role as an excuse to destructive fishing when some local communities, police, prosecutors and judges usually show sympathy to poor and ignorant fishers, or pretend doing so, because they are bribed by the powerful ’godfathers’ organizing the dynamiting .
Finally, the trade, movements, storage and accessibility of dynamite need to be much more monitored and controlled at the sources. For example, companies, building contractors and the defence forces should be made accountable with strict stock control and harsh penalties for any ’lost’ dynamite.
The sources say the national solution to the problem has already been decided---to adopt a zero tolerance policy against dynamite fishing. But the big question, is will this actually happen?
The sources say it will be wise to request for detailed study on factors that will influence or prevent enforcement of zero tolerance to dynamite fishing in Tanzania.
Another measure is to continue, assist and encourage education and awareness programmes that will lead to change in behaviour of fishers, local communities and law enforcement officers (the police and judiciary).
In addition, there is a need to encourage and facilitate scientists to contribute more environmental and resource information that will have direct impact on policy and management of illegal and destructive fishing activities.
Dr Matt Richmond, a marine scientist working for Samaki Consultants Limited, observes that there are few coral reefs globally and the effects of dynamite fishing will further reduce the number of healthy reefs.
"There are not very many coral reefs in the world," warns the marine scientist who has co-authored a book titled: A Field Guide to the Seashores of Eastern Africa and the Western Indian Ocean Islands.
Jerker Tamelander, coordinator for the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Global Marine Programme in the Indian Ocean, says IUCN involvement in addressing dynamite fishing is done in partnership with various institutions and stakeholders, including Sea Sense, the Fisheries Division, the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), the British High Commission and the Marine and Coastal Environment Management Project (MACEMP).
"There is need to generate knowledge about dynamite fishing beyond reporting incidents of blasting," says Tamelander, a marine biologist.
"For example, we need to understand the bottlenecks to successful prosecution of cases involving dynamite fishing, including any capacity/awareness gaps e.g. in the judiciary and how these can be addressed," he says.
Tamelander says the legislation penal codes also need to be revised, for example, by making sure that the new fisheries Act should leave room for fining perpetrators rather than imprisoning them for a minimum of five years.
However, at the same time the fines need to be high enough to act as deterrents, and provisions for charging for restoration of damage caused could be included.
He says enforcement should also be reviewed. �What makes for effective enforcement? Is there sufficient capacity in terms of money, people and tools’ Is it simply a matter of designing better enforcement campaigns?" he queries, adding that enforcement campaigns without addressing other issues will have only limited impact.
He says dynamite fishing should be recognized as a security issue, something that has been talked about for a long time but seems elusive. On a related note, Tamelander says he senses that there is a broad lack of knowledge about what various acts and laws say about dynamite fishing or explosives in general, their possession, use etc.
"Raising awareness on this would be useful, including among civil society as well as central and district government," says Tamelander.
He says vigilance is also important, and involving stakeholders and the general public meaningfully for monitoring, reporting and supporting enforcement and public awareness campaigns is still needed, and will indeed be essential to support efforts to curb and eventually eliminate dynamite fishing from Tanzania.
Jason Rubens, the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF-Tanzania Programme Office) Marine Programmes Coordinator, says the WWF Tanzania Programme Office has also been active in supporting the Government of Tanzania in addressing dynamite fishing, providing co-funding for government enforcement operations in 2006 and 2008 and assisting preparations for the national meeting on fisheries in December 2007.
"However, the lasting impact of these interventions has been disappointing," says Rubens, a marine scientist.
He adds: "What we have learned is that dynamite fishing may only be stopped through a joint effort by several branches of Government, including fisheries, the police, the judiciary and others all working together. It is not the work of a single ministry or institution."
The marine scientist says it is a waste of time putting a lot of resources into enforcement if the apprehended culprits are not properly sentenced in court, adding that weak sentencing over the past five years has demoralized both enforcement agencies and communities, many of whom have worked hard to try to combat the problem on the ground.
"But when a month later the same people are back dynamiting again they may think ’what is the point?’. A major collaborative effort is therefore needed nationally, co-ordinated by the highest level of Government," says the marine scientist.
Rubens says dynamite fishing has been undermining the livelihoods and security of coastal communities in Tanzania for over 30 years, adding: "Dynamite seems to be freely available along the coast."
"How long will it be before it (dynamite/explosives) is used for a more evil purpose such as terrorism? I am sure this is a cause for concern amongst the national security agencies," queries the WWF marine programmes coordinator.
He says there is no other country in Eastern Africa or the western Indian Ocean that allows this practice to go uncontrolled. "This should give us confidence that we too can put an end to it once and for all," he adds.
Efforts and commitment are needed on a national scale to eliminate dynamite fishing from Tanzania, an illegal activity that is not practised in neighbouring Kenya or Mozambique, together with action from the Government to enforce fisheries laws and deal with corrupt officials.
Tanzania is facing significant loss of marine biodiversity and the livelihoods of coastal communities are being severely affected.
