Fishermen in Ilankanathai, Trincomalee, staged a protest on 7 February, demanding an immediate ban on the use of illegal explosives dynamite in fishing activities.
The demonstration, led by Ilankanathai Fishermen’s Association President Ponnampalam Ravichandran, highlighted the severe environmental destruction and economic hardships caused by dynamite fishing, a practice that has been wreaking havoc on the local fishing community.
Out of the 145 families residing in Ilankanathai, 125 families depend on traditional hook-and-line fishing for their survival. However, unknown individuals have been engaging in illegal dynamite fishing, significantly depleting fish stocks and threatening the livelihoods of local fishermen.
Speaking at the protest, the fishermen stressed that the reckless use of explosives not only destroys entire fish populations but also causes long-term environmental damage. Coral reefs, essential to sustaining marine biodiversity, are being annihilated, making it increasingly difficult for fishermen to secure their daily catch.
Dynamite fishing is a destructive practice that results in the indiscriminate killing of marine life and permanently damages underwater ecosystems. The protesters warned that if immediate action is not taken, the long-term sustainability of Ilankanathai’s fishing industry will be at risk, leaving future generations without a source of income.
The protesting fishermen have now demanded urgent intervention from the Sri Lankan government to ban and enforce stricter penalties against those engaging in dynamite fishing.