Tanzania is the only country in Africa where blast fishing, (fishing with
explosives), still occurs on a large scale. Besides killing and injuring
fish, these blasts cause irreversible damage to coral reefs, destroying the
habitats of many reef species, shattering the natural barriers that protect
Tanzania’s coastline from erosion and storm surges, and threatening the
country’s reputation as an important marine tourism destination. This
destructive fishing practice must urgently be halted, both to prevent the
considerable socio-economic repercussions for coastal communities and
to protect the integrity of vital and endangered ecosystems. Blast fishing
encompasses opportunistic and organised crime, thus requiring an urgent
multi-stakeholder response from all sectors of the government, business,
coastal communities and regional marine-governing authorities.
