​Stop dynamite fishing!

Fishermen have been urged to stop dynamite fishing as it is illegal and can be extremely destructive to the environment and human health.

The National Fisheries Authority (NFA) is calling on people to practice traditional and safe methods of fishing, rather than resorting to dynamites.

Dynamite fishing is the practice of using explosives to stun or kill schools of fish for easy collection.

This practice can be extremely destructive to the surrounding ecosystem, as the explosion often destroys the underlying habitat such as coral reefs that support the fish.

Fisheries officer Mark Bangkoma said this method of fishing is still common in many local areas in the country.

Bangkoma warned that dynamite fishing can kill people if they are not careful; some chemicals used in making dynamites are not good for the human health.

He said the government doesn’t allow this kind of fishing method because there could still be small traces of those chemicals which could cause some health problems to the body.

Bangkoma added that illegal fishing from foreigners is also common in PNG and NFA has so far destroyed illegal fishing vessels on three occasions in the last three years.

Author: 
Quintina Naime