Dimensions of fishing with explosives in the Brazilian central coast from data mining and fishers’ perception: Concentrated and problematic, yet avoidable

Small-scale and subsistence fisheries play an important role in the livelihoods and food security of several local communities worldwide. However, the status and dynamics of many fishing practices are unknown, particularly regarding destructive fishing practices such as blast fishing. The main goals of this research were to provide an analysis of trends of the blast fishing in the Brazilian central coast, specifically in the Todos os Santos Bay (TSB), as well as to offer alternative sources of information that could be used to eradicate this harmful and illegal activity. Several sources of data were explored, including time-series analysis of complaints and surveillance reports from environmental and police agencies, web-based available data, and fisher interviews, which were used together to understand the status of blast fishing. Our data indicated sharp explosions occurring near urban centers and productive fishing villages chiefly targeting valuable pelagic schooling fish, such as mullets and pilchards. A significant number of species have been identified as by-catch resulting from blasts, indicating harmful effects on aquatic biota, which remains underemphasized since the onset of blasting (i.e., since the 1930s). The results of the spatial model (kernel density estimates) demonstrated that the sum of all current destructive blasting fishing occupies an extensive area in the TSB (approximately 32% of territory) and can be sufficient to continue causing loss of diversity and fishery resources coupled with other more recent damages (i.e., habitat loss, coastal development, overfishing, industrial and urban pollution). This study can be used to improve blast fishing maps frequently, and its diagnostic nature is likely to assist policy and surveillance makers in designing better interventions for the eradication this destructive practice.