Unsustainable fishing in Amazonian Ecuador involving agrochemicals and explosives detected by media surveys and stakeholder perception

Abstract

Illegal fishing with agrochemicals and explosives is an uncontrolled problem that is causing long-lasting, irreversible damage to the aquatic ecosystems. The present investigation was carried out based on cases reported by journalistic sources, which provided an overview of this unpleasant practice nationwide in Ecuador. To validate journalistic information, 102 surveys were conducted in the Ecuadorian Amazon in six population groups: students, anglers, UPMA (The Environmental Police Unit) police officers, Agrocalidad, MAATE (Ministry of the Environment, Water and Ecological Transition) staff, and Amazon residents, categorized by their respective provinces. The survey results confirmed that 49% of participants knew about the illegal use of agrochemicals and dynamite in Amazonian fishing. Predominantly riverside communities were known to carry out this practice during the dry season. The identified agrochemicals, ranked by frequency of use were as follows: Rotenone (26%), Palmarol (l9%), Nuvan (3%), Methavin (2%); as well as Dynamite (9%); which were used to increase the fish catching rates. According to the Kruskal-Wallis test, the frequency of annual fishing with agrochemicals or explosives was significantly differ between the Amazonian provinces; attributed to differences in the sources and level of incomes between the provinces. Therefore, a strong relationship between the economic status of fishermen and the unsustainable fishing (using agrochemicals-explosives)was evidenced by the Spearman coefficient, with a Rho of 0.985(p ≤ 0.005). In summary, the use of agrochemicals and explosives is a common fishing method in the Ecuadorian Amazon. This practice is associated with their sources of income, such as mining, and agriculture. It is linked to the difficulty of controlling the commercialization of agrochemicals and dynamite, either through contraband or the inclusion of the active ingredient in a wide range of pesticides. Given the irreversible adverse impact of illegal fishing aquatic ecosystems, stringent action plants are greatly warranted by the Ecuadorian government and environmental agencies to protect the aquatic flora and fauna.