[Published on Thursday, March 5, 2026]
BY JUNELYN KELLY
The Guadalcanal Provincial Government (GPG) released an urgent public report condemning the continued use of dynamite and other explosive substances for fishing along its coastline.
A press statement from Guadalcanal Provincial Government Facebook page on Monday this week said the recent event particularly about the Mamara Boko Lake Sea fronts highlight severe environmental destruction, public danger and criminally associated with these illegal practices.
GPG said on March 1st, 2026 officers from the Guadalcanal Law Enforcement Division responded to a report of dynamite blasting at Mamara Boko Lake beachfront around 7am, upon arrival at 9:30 am on the road side of Mamara.
Officers discovered a group of young men collecting and selling fish through recent explosive dynamite methods.
The Fisheries Management Act 2015 explicitly outlines the legal prohibitions and penalties:
- Section 23 (2) prohibits any persons from using, carrying, possessing, poison, noxious substance, bomb, electrical device, dynamite for the purpose of killing, taking, or disabling fish.
- Section 23 (5) states that any person who contravenes this provision commits an offence and is liable to fine up to 3,000,000 penalty units, imprisonment up to 3 years.
- Section 23 (6) impose additional mandatory imprisonment for repeat offenders.
GPG statement said this penalty will be pursued against anyone found engaging in dynamite fishing within Guadalcanal Province.
It’s environmental and community impacts include:
- Destroyed coral reef ecosystems and marine biodiversity
- Threatens long-term fish stocks and food security for coastal communities
- Endangers lives due to the unsafe handling of explosive
- Undermines lawful fisheries management and conversation efforts
The GPG calls on all chiefs, community leaders, youth groups, churches and coastal residents to unite against this destructive practice, as protecting reefs is crucial to preserve livelihoods, food security and the future of the children.
GPG said illegal dynamite fishing must stop immediately and permanently.
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