Studies from the UN show that the number of fish in the world’s oceans is declining at an alarming rate, threatening the livelihood and food security of 200 million people. In El Salvador, the small-scale fisherwomen and fishermen of the Bay of Jiquilisco Biosphere Reserve are seeing big drops in number and size of their catch each year. A major reason for this is the practice of blast fishing: the use of bombs and explosives to stun the fish to the surface.
Adult Hawksbill turtle fatally wounded by explosives
This destructive practice is not just destroying fish stocks. It is also the number one threat to the survival of sea turtles, including the critically endangered Hawksbill turtle. Every bomb that explodes during turtle season destroys dozens of baby sea turtles. Of the thousands which hatch on the local beaches, only a handful make it to adulthood. For the survival of this endangered species, we must halt the practice of bomb fishing.
In response to this environmental threat, we are working with local communities to support the formation of sustainable fishing cooperatives. These cooperatives are made up of fisherwomen and fishermen who are committed to less destructive forms of fishing. They are spreading the word about the problems created by bomb fishing. They are also working with university scientists to track local fish species, and to create protected areas where the fish can reproduce. By constructing “reefs” of anchored wood to replace the lost habitat, the cooperative members provide a place for fish to lay their eggs. They are patrolling these areas to ensure that no one fishes in and near them, and to report any use of explosives to the local authorities.
These fisherwomen and fishermen represent a new wave of environmental consciousness in some of the poorest rural communities of El Salvador. In the country with one of the highest levels of environmental degradation in the Americas, rural people whose livelihoods depend on the land and sea – farmers, fishermen, crabbers –can see that they must protect the few resources they have left. With your support, they can achieve a sustainable livelihood.
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