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Proceedings of the International Cyanide Detection Testing Workshop

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Battling <strong>the</strong> Silent Killer <strong>of</strong> Coral Reefs<br />

Gil Adora<br />

Assistant Director<br />

Philippines Bureau <strong>of</strong> Fisheries and Aquatic Resources<br />

gi_adora@yahoo.com<br />

The misuse <strong>of</strong> sodium cyanide - <strong>the</strong> silent<br />

killer <strong>of</strong> coral reefs - in <strong>the</strong> live reef fi sh trade<br />

remains a major and fundamental challenge<br />

to fi sheries resource management and<br />

conservation in <strong>the</strong> Philippines. Although<br />

<strong>the</strong> practice is illegal and fraught with health<br />

risks, live fi sh collectors continue to take <strong>the</strong>ir<br />

chances, emboldened by <strong>the</strong> knowledge that<br />

government has very limited capability to<br />

apprehend and prosecute <strong>the</strong>m.<br />

The country’s response to <strong>the</strong> cyanide fi shing<br />

menace was originally focused on training<br />

programs that encourage collectors to shift<br />

to coral-friendly harvesting techniques.<br />

However, <strong>the</strong> failure <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> market to reward<br />

<strong>the</strong>m with better returns for <strong>the</strong>ir enterprise<br />

has been cited as a major disincentive that<br />

eventually compels reformed fi shermen to<br />

revert to cyanide use.<br />

The Philippine campaign against cyanide<br />

fi shing reached a major turning point when<br />

our agency adopted a cyanide detection test<br />

that uses Ion Selective Electrodes to detect <strong>the</strong><br />

presence <strong>of</strong> cyanide in fi sh tissues and organs.<br />

The new test was regarded as a signifi cant<br />

breakthrough, inspiring law enforcers to<br />

make arrests and enabling BFAR to fi le cases<br />

152<br />

and successfully prosecute a number <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>m<br />

in court.<br />

Unfortunately, a shortage <strong>of</strong> funds compelled<br />

BFAR to scale down <strong>the</strong> operation <strong>of</strong> its<br />

six CDT laboratories. To date, only four <strong>of</strong><br />

<strong>the</strong> six laboratories are functioning: Manila,<br />

Puerto Princesa, Cebu and Zamboanga.<br />

The good news is that BFAR’s political will<br />

to stamp our cyanide use remains strong and<br />

has only been put on hold due to budgetary<br />

to limitations. In fact, BFAR has a standing<br />

plan to expand <strong>the</strong> existing CDT laboratory<br />

network by establishing new laboratories<br />

in o<strong>the</strong>r centers <strong>of</strong> live fi sh collection. The<br />

better news is that <strong>the</strong> agency been able to<br />

source from recent grants and loans a total<br />

<strong>of</strong> seven complete CDT equipment which,<br />

funds permitting, would be used in strategic<br />

priority areas.<br />

BFAR, however, needs help in running<br />

and maintaining <strong>the</strong>se labs and o<strong>the</strong>r<br />

complementary activities. It is our hope that<br />

this workshop will result - well, eventually<br />

-in providing us with <strong>the</strong> wherewithal to put<br />

in operation a serious and effective cyanide<br />

fi shing reform program.

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