South East Asia

The problematic cause of the loss of the ocean’s ecosystem in Southeast Asia is due to over fishing. Communities like San Vincente have come up with ways for the ecosystem to repair itself by designating environmental identities or MPAs. Environmental identities are areas which are protected from fishing. However establishing these areas is a tedious task for these communities. They will typically choose havens that are close to shore per the lecture it was 15 km off shore. Though this is easy for the communities to monitor; they are typically the areas that are the most damaged and over fished.

The placing of protective areas do not effect big fishing rigs but the everyday fisherman. While the bigger rigs can go to untouched reefs hours off the shore, the local fisherman can only go a km and some even fish from shore.

Forms of local fishing can be casting nets into the ocean and letting then being pulled by to shore. Though this is very strenuous it damages the reefs when the drag it across the ocean floor. There is also blast fishing. They will throw bombs into the water and have it explode shocking the fishing and causing them to rise to the surface. There is also cyanide fishing. Fisherman will inject sodium cyanide into the reefs causing the fish to be stunned.

Though having the designated areas does help. It is the monitoring and having people buy into the theory. There are only two options for locals to choose farming or fishing. It is difficult for environmental protection agencies to have locals buy into altering their way of life or even the traditions of their family.

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