Featured Image: JURGEN FREUND, NATURE PICTURE LIBRARY, CORBIS
By: Hannah Rosenoff
What actually is cyanide fishing? Well, it’s a fishing method that mainly divers participate in. They crush cyanide tablets and combine the powder with seawater and take the mixture with them while diving. They squirt the solution to stun a specific fish, usually exotic reef fish, and capture them to sell for aquariums.
The fish start gasping at the onset of the cyanide, then lose all respiratory activity. Many die on the spot. Those who don’t will likely die in transit.
This technique is popular in Southeast Asia yet illegal in most of the surrounding countries. Loose law enforcement and corruption allows this practice to continue. According to the World Resources Institute, about 20% of live fish for sale in markets around Southeast Asia are captured by this technique.
Not only is this done for aquarium fish, but also for human consumption! In large cities like Hong Kong, an expensive restaurant outing could look something like this. You’re in a fancy restaurant and see a tank of diverse reef fish. You make a selection from the tank and that unlucky fish is prepared for you on the spot. This whole experience is a major status symbol and is most common for celebrations and business dinners.
Cyanide fishing in coral reef in the Philippines
Image Credit: © Jurgen Freund / World Wildlife Fund
The presence of cyanide harms the fish, even if they are not killed for consumption. A single stunning experience almost always causes cancer within a year, leaving buyers unsatisfied. But more important than dissatisfaction, the reef health is damaged as the cyanide concentration rises. Coral bleaching, change to the biology of the coral, and even instant death are all effects of cyanide to coral.
Oddly enough, there isn’t a lot of evidence showing how the consumption of cyanide poisoned fish affects humans. The reason for this is that the concentration of cyanide that stays in the fish is relatively small. So unless you’re eating a ton of poisoned fish, the risk is minor. Feeling nauseated and having gastritis are the main symptoms for cyanide poisoning in humans.
The main people who should really stay away from poisoned fish are pregnant women, elderly and children. But avoiding cyanide caught fish is probably a good idea for everyone…Capturing fish using cancer-causing methods, while damaging reef health is a loss for almost everyone involved.
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