Erin Lankford
2:50 PM
In the Philippines a method for fishing uses cyanide or dynamite which causes a great amount of damage to the underwater environment. These methods are deeply rooted in the culture and often people are fish illegally to make ends meet. The area was once full of an array of species but now that seems to be dwindling. Marine biodiversity is in jeopardy due to the unsustainable fishing methods being used. Coral reefs are being destroyed and the toxins in the water rapidly kill fish. It was also discovered that a local hotel was releasing untreated waste water into the sea which causes algae to grow and smother corals and deprive fish of a safe habitat. The tourism industry thrives on water activities that will decline if an effort is not made to protect the marine environment.
The fishing methods that are used are extremely detrimental to the environment but no changes can be made unless the fishermen are educated on sustainable methods. Often times they are doing this out of necessity for life and have no other means of income. Without government assistance it is unlikely that any changes can be made. By damaging the biodiversity of marine life the food chain is disrupted and without correction the ocean will potentially not be able to feed the growing human population. We learned from a video assignment in class that the Philippines is a poor developing nation with a great amount of people and very few jobs. Unless they are informed of safe fishing strategies and provided the means to do so then environmental damage will continue to be a problem.
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