The use of explosives to catch fish has caused extensive damage to coral reefs throughout Southeast Asia, but the frequency with which they are used is largely unknown. The aim of this work is to develop a detection system capable of distinguishing underwater explosions from background noise, and locating their origin by triangulation. 

It may not be a major method of fishing like hook and line or the gill net, but explosive fishing is widespread in the Philippines.

Species-area curves calculated from line-intercept transect surveys on 15 reefs in three regions of Indonesia allow estimation of the relative decrease in within-habitat coral species diversity associated with different types of reef degradation.

Literature review of the use of underwater explosives indicated that the largest lethal zone for swimbladder fishes is located near the surface of the water.