Bomb fishing is wreaking havoc on Indonesia's coral reefs

Indonesia's Coral Triangle, known as the "Amazon of the Seas," is facing a grave threat from a destructive fishing practice called bomb fishing. Off the coast of Sulawesi, researchers estimate that more than 8,000 underwater explosives are detonated annually, turning vibrant coral reefs into "rubble." The explosive technique, banned globally, uses plastic bottles packed with explosives to stun and kill everything within a 90-foot radius.

In the Spermonde Archipelago, underwater microphones captured over 3,500 blasts in just three days of recording. A single bomb can destroy up to 200 square feet of coral, reducing it to a desolate landscape. Researchers used artificial intelligence to analyze 16 months of audio recordings, detecting over 8,500 blasts annually in a 350-square-mile area.

The destruction occurs year-round, peaking in the mornings, and seems to diminish on Fridays. Bomb fishing not only decimates coral but also kills fish with ruptured internal organs and burst swim bladders. Preventing this destructive practice requires effective enforcement of marine protected areas and, according to researchers, a network of audio sensors with GPS syncs for real-time detection.