According to the Salvadorian National Center for the Fishery and Agriculture Development (Cendepesca), there are insufficient resources to fight against illegal and non-regulated fishery.
Every year, artisanal fishermen and industrial fishing boats catch enormous quantities of fish illegally in Central America; quantities arrive to nearly 5,000 metric tons per year.
Fishermen are using explosives to catch marine species. Illegal, Unregulated and Unreported (IUU) fishing is practiced regularly in areas such as the Jiquilisco Bay and the Jaltepeque Straight.
According to Mario Gonzalez, director of Cendepesca, the explosive’s wave kills infant fish and stuns adult species. Also, so far, at least four fishermen have lost some body-member because of accidents with explosives.
Fishing with explosives is one of the most harmful practices for the ecosystem. There are many Salvadoran families living in poverty in the coastal areas. Gonzalez admits that because of their poor condition they are pressured to search for a way to make a living. However, he adds, doing this in such an irresponsible way is a matter of habit and principle.
Within the last year, local authorities seized three pirate vessels for fishing in Salvadorian wasters without the required fishing permits. The three vessels were transporting about 18,000 pounds of tuna and pelagic, informed Cendepesca. The product was confiscated and donated to humanitarian institutions. Gonzalez assures that the boatowners received an $8,000 fine each. Nevertheless, in spite of the efforts, IUU fishing continues and illegal fishermen are nearly catching about 5,000 metric tons of fish per annum in Salvadorian waters, estimates Gonzalez.
According to Cendepesca, efforts to fight against IUU fishing are often useless, as the guilty are incarcerated for their illegal activities.
According to the coordinator of the Port Zone El Triunfo-Usulutan, Eduardo Medina, an artisanal fisherman was recently arrested while handling explosives. Authorities seized the home-made explosives, as well as unauthorized nets. It would have been possible to charge him for illegal fishing practices of marine resources, however, the local police chose to apply the Criminal Law, which sanctions the unauthorized possession of explosives. It is not possible to book him for both charges.
Medina informs that in spite of the fisherman being “caught in the act†and of the police having seized the explosives, still only after 72 hours the judge’s ruling was for the fisherman to be set free “because of insufficient evidenceâ€.
The explosives used by the fishermen are made by mixing chlorine, potassium and sulfur. Gonzalez explained that, although the authorities have a list of people approved to purchase these chemicals, there is no control on further sales.
Central America Fishery Authorities will meet next November to discuss solutions to different problems from the sector. Gonzalez said that one of the measures that will be evaluated is to combine resources between the countries of the area to fight illegal fishing.