Blast fishing has been considered a destructive method because it destroys coral reefs habitats and fishery stocks as well as other marine organisms. Today, it continues to cause considerable damage in places such as Palawan group of islands, the Sulu archipelago, and western Mindanao. Although a number of studies have documented the extent of its occurrence in some parts of the Philippines, such as those stated above, there is also evidence that the incidence of blast fishing has declined or ceased in some areas of the country. This generally decreasing trend in the incidence of blast fishing is attributed mainly to increase environmental awareness of people as a result of educational campaigns against destructive fishing activities, the vigorous implementation of fishery laws by some local government units and, more importantly, the depletion in coastal areas of schooling fish, which are the primary targets of blast fishermen. An economic analysis of blast fishing provides evidence that while individual fishers derive substantial financial benefits from blast fishing, the net loss to society after years is substantial, a good reason to eliminate blast fishing on coral reefs.
Two other fishing activities- spear fishing with SCUBA or “hookah” compressor and drift gill net fishing- also deplete marine resources. Spear fishing with SCUBA should be banned. Drift gill net fishing should be regulated to minimize the potential negative impacts on fish, marine mammals and other marine species. The development of alternative fishing activities or sources of income to which spear fishers, drift gill net operators, and blast fishers can shift their fishing operations is highly desirable.
