Until recently, researchers needed substantial tissue samples to detect cyanide exposure, which meant that the fish tested were killed. But in 2012, a new method was developed to measure thiocyanate — a byproduct of cyanide detoxification that fish excrete with their urine. «This new approach was a major breakthrough because it is non-invasive and non-destructive,» says Umberger. In addition, this method of fishing destroys the natural features of the environment in which plants and fish live, relax and even hide. The bottom of the waters is made up of exceptional biodiversity, and this is what disrupts bottom trawling. The method was originally used in the Philippines in the 1960s to obtain live fish for sale to other countries to aquarium owners, a market that has grown considerably. In modern times, the method is used in fish delivery for restaurants in Hong Kong and Singapore. Plant extracts, chemicals (such as cyanide) and other substances, bottom trawling is one of the most harmful fishing methods. It is an industrial technique that uses huge nets weighed down by heavy ballast that is dragged across the seabed and collects and crushes everything along the way, from fish to aquatic plants.
Quote this article: Christie Wilcox «Fishing With Cyanide,» Hakai Magazine, June 30, 2016, accessed October 15, 2022, hakaimagazine.com/news/fishing-cyanide/. The abandonment or loss of fishing nets at sea has been exacerbated by the increase in fishing and the introduction of synthetic fishing nets, which are very durable. Several thousand livelihoods in this region depend on the supply of live fish for the aquarium and forage fish industry. To ensure that we do not criminalize innocent fishermen, it is important to find a validated detection test that accurately identifies illegally caught fish with cyanide. The chemical can also be present in water through industrial, agricultural and natural processes. Without a test that stands up in court, it is difficult to successfully prosecute. The same scenario is also recorded in developed countries. In addition, people from poor financial and social backgrounds find work where illegal fishing takes place; They are mistreated and do not even have social protection. Colorful coral reef fish, particularly eccentric and therefore rare, are packed in plastic bags; Up to two-thirds of these fish die during transport. It is estimated that 70% to 90% of aquarium fish exported from the Philippines are caught with cyanide. [2] [3] [4] Due to the stress of handling after capture and the effects of cyanide, fish inevitably have a shorter lifespan than usual in aquariums. According to an interview with experienced aquarium owners, they were willing to pay more for net-caught fish due to the higher survival rate.
[5] They also stated that they would not trust an eco-label scheme, which can be misleading. [ref. The illegal use of cyanide to catch live reef fish for the food industry and aquarium trade is widespread in the Asia-Pacific region and not only leads to high mortality rates of caught fish, but also damages and kills corals and other organisms on reefs. Without effective testing methods, enforcement of cyanide fishing laws has proven difficult. Using this new method, Umberger and Downs went to pet stores and purchased 89 fish of 15 different species. They tried to buy fish that had just arrived for delivery at the store to minimize the time that could have passed since a possible cyanide exposure. Each fish was then placed in artificial seawater, where it was allowed to swim and urinate for 24 hours. Water samples were then taken and sent to an independent laboratory for thiocyanate analysis.
Research shows that many of the fishermen involved in illegal fishing come mainly from developing countries with slow-growing economies and poor living conditions. Financially weak states set priorities other than the monitoring of marine fisheries. Those who pursue a policy of illegal fishing tend to pay their employees very low wages, which encourages shipowners to take advantage of it. This endless cycle of poverty and the need for a source of livelihood encourages illegal fishing on continents such as Asia, Latin America and Africa. «Cyanide fishing» is one of the most destructive techniques for catching live fish. In this practice, which is illegal in many countries, fishermen spray concentrated sodium cyanide on reefs to stun fish and collect them for the aquarium trade or live fish market. But cyanide is indiscriminate: it often kills fish and can kill corals and other reef organisms in the process. This makes new research suggesting that half of the vibrant saltwater fish sold in U.S. pet stores are caught with this harmful method in a particularly troubling way. But even if the 50 percent rate deviates in both directions, the result is troubling, says Andrew Rhyne, a marine biologist at Rodger Williams University who has studied the aquarium trade for years.
«Does it matter if 10 percent of the fish are caught with cyanide or 90 percent?» he asks. «Shouldn`t the goal be not to catch fish with cyanide?» This method of illegal fishing is mainly used in Southeast Asia. This involves the use of an extensive perimeter network with a series of ramming tools, usually heavy rocks or cement blocks, attached to the surface to drive fish from coral reefs. Fishermen beat coral reefs with cement blocks that scare off fish. In their presentation, Umberger and Downs explained how they purchased fish from retailers in five states. Of the 89 fish they bought, just over half tested positive for cyanide exposure, including 13 of the 16 green chromis tested — a species not previously thought to be caught frequently with cyanide. They also found that 57 percent of the blue tangs tested positive for cyanide contamination — a troubling finding, as some scientists fear the movie Finding Dory could increase demand for these fish, which can`t be bred in captivity. Although a larger study is needed to verify the accuracy and wide applicability of the results, these early results are making waves in the scientific community.
The cyanide method is very harmful to the creatures that swallow it. Research shows that aquarium fish that have ingested cyanide have cancer within a year of purchase. It is also said that one square meter of coral reef is destroyed for each fish caught with the cyanide technique.